Award Number: DE-EE0007581CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6Solar Energy Technologies OfficeLocation(s): GAOffice: Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
September 1, 2016
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Passively-Powered Adaptively-Located Flexible Hybrid Sensors
Award Number: DE-EE0007581
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Solar Energy Technologies Office
Date: 8/17/2016
Location(s): GA
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide funding to Suniva Inc. (Suniva) to conduct research and development (R&D) on cost reduction of photovoltaic (PV) modules based on mono-passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) cells through the development of advanced screen-printed metallization to increase cell efficiency, and a bifacial cell structure that enables the use of thin wafers to reduce cost.
Suniva would establish a software model calibrated with baseline data from the manufacturing line to assess the impact of planned improvements. They would then develop an advanced screen-print metallization process. This would be followed by modifying the manufacturing equipment and the cell design with the goal to improve the yield. Finally, pilot production of bifacial PERC cells on thin wafers would be demonstrated. The work would occur at two Suniva, Inc. facilities; one in Norcross, GA and the other in Saginaw, MI. Computer simulation, wafer annealing and dielectric depositions would be performed at campus laboratory facilities at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA. The facilities in which the work would occur are purpose-built for the activities being proposed. No new or modified permits, construction of new facilities, or physical modifications to existing facilities would occur as a result of the proposed project.