Sliver® cells for concentrator systems

Abstract

One of the fundamental principles of concentrator PV systems is that expensive solar cells can be replaced by less expensive optics. However, the proliferation of concentrator systems has been somewhat held up by the fact that cells remain a significant component of total concentrator system cost. Current research in concentrator PV is focused in the area of high concentration systems which employ a smaller number of high efficiency triple junction cells. Sliver® cells, developed at The Australian National University, utilize a novel method for micromachining narrow, thin cells from conventional silicon wafers. The technology gives rise to a marked increase in active solar cell area per wafer processed. The cells were originally designed for nonconcentrating PV applications, though it is possible to modify the design of the cells such that they are capable of operating at low-medium concentration ratios. Modelling has been used to determine the optimum set of design parameters for concentrator sliver® cells. This forms the basis for cell fabrication. Development of low cost concentrator solar cells can provide a pathway to cost-effective low to medium concentration ratio PV systems.