https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/02/07/recycled-silicon-used-in-19-7-efficient-perc-solar-cells/ Skip to content * Global * Germany * Spain * France * USA * Mexico * Latin America * Australia * India * China pv magazine - Photovoltaics Markets and Technology Subscriptions [ ] [Search] * Global * Germany * Spain * France * USA * Mexico * Latin America * Australia * India * China [ ] [Search] * Global * Germany * Spain * France * USA * Mexico * Latin America * Australia * India * China * News + All news + Covid-19 + Applications & installations o Commercial & industrial PV o Grids & integration o Residential PV o Utility scale PV + Energy storage + Hydrogen + Industry & suppliers o Balance of systems o Modules & upstream manufacturing + Markets & trends o Finance o Markets o Policy + Opinion & analysis o Opinion & analysis o Opinion & analysis guidelines + Press Releases + Technology and R&D + Sustainability * Features + pv magazine UP initiative + pv magazine Hydrogen Hub + Magazine features + US module maker directory + Partner news o OMCO Solar white paper + Video * Events + pv magazine Roundtables & Insights + pv magazine Webinars + Event calendar + Past events * Awards * Print archive * pv magazine test * About + About us + Community standards + Contact us + Jobs + Newsletter + Subscribe + Team * Advertise Recycled silicon used in 19.7% efficient PERC solar cells Led by German research institute Fraunhofer ISE, the consortium has built the solar cells with 100% crystalline silicon recycled from end-of-life photovoltaic panels. The silicon is recycled through a technique conceived by German specialist Reiling GmbH & Co. KG and the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP. February 7, 2022 Emiliano Bellini * Manufacturing * Modules & Upstream Manufacturing * Technology * Technology and R&D * Germany [PERECsolarcells] Image: Fraunhofer ISE Share Icon Facebook Icon Twitter Icon LinkedIn Icon WhatsApp Icon Email The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is leading a German consortium in the development of PERC solar cells based on 100% crystalline silicon recycled from end-of-life photovoltaic panels. The silicon is recycled through a technique conceived by German specialist Reiling GmbH & Co. KG and the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP, which is claimed to recycle silicon from different types of modules, regardless of manufacturer and origin. "At Fraunhofer CSP, the cell fragments with sizes from 0.1 to 1 millimeter are first freed from the glass and plastic by various sorting processes," the Fraunhofer ISE said in a statement. "This is followed by the step-by-step removal of the backside contact, the silver contacts, the anti-reflective layer and finally the emitter by wet chemical etching. The silicon cleaned in this way is processed into monocrystalline or quasi-monocrystalline ingots in standard processes and then into wafers." The German scientists said the cells were fabricated only with wafers relying on recycled silicon and that no commercial ultrapure silicon was added during the manufacturing process. The performance of the first trial PERC cells was tested and the devices were found to achieve a power conversion efficiency of 19.7%. "This is below the efficiency of today's premium PERC solar cells, which have an efficiency of around 22.2 percent, but it is certainly above that of the solar cells in the old, discarded modules," said Peter Dold, project manager at Fraunhofer CSP, without providing more technical details. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. Share Icon Facebook Icon Twitter Icon LinkedIn Icon WhatsApp Icon Email Emiliano Bellini [Emiliano] Emiliano joined pv magazine in March 2017. He has been reporting on solar and renewable energy since 2009. More articles from Emiliano Bellini [javascript protected email address] Related content Elsewhere on pv magazine... 2 comments 1. Brad abernethy says: February 8, 2022 at 5:19 pm This is an excellent step forward in making a free technology even more so. Reply 2. 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