NextBase project: The next generation baseline for solar modules
The NextBase project, deals with the development of innovative high performance c-Si solar cells and modules based on the interdigitated back-contacted silicon heterojunction (IBC-SHJ) solar cell concept targeting cells with efficiency above 26.0% and corresponding solar modules with efficiency above 22.0%. At the same time, the NextBase project pursues the development of a new industrial manufacturing tool and low-cost processes enabling a competitive IBC-SHJ solar module cost of < 0.35 €/Wp.
Concept of NextBase
The c-Si PV technology is currently dominating over other technologies as its performance is superior to the majority of thin film based solar cells and its production price is still competitive to them. This is evidenced by a global market share of c-Si solar cells that gradually increased to a value above 90% of the total annual production nowadays. This increase, however, has been mostly led by Chinese and Taiwanese PV companies which produced around 75% of the total PV modules in 2013.
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Facts & Figures
Project full name: Next-generation interdigitated back-contacted silicon heterojunction solar cells and modules by design and process innovations
Acronym: NextBase
Duration: 36 months
Start date: October 2016
Total budget: 5,6 M€
EC Funding: 3,8 M€
EC Contract number: 727523
The project consortium comprises 14 partners from 8 European countries.
Partners about
"Requirement of high quality silicon wafers is rising with the development trend of increasing solar efficiency while keeping low manufacturing cost. In this contest, NC as a high quality wafer manufacturer is participating in NextBase project aiming to..." Read more..
"DSM participates in NextBase, because it is a chance to interact with leading institutes and companies and an opportunity to evaluate our materials with high-performance cells and modules. We expect to .." Read more..
Objectives
The expected outcome of this project is to realize IBC-SHJ solar cells with efficiency above 26.0% and corresponding solar modules with efficiency above 22.0%. Practically, this means that the project is aiming to bring the silicon solar cell world record efficiency to Europe while employing simple process flow for this device type. This will also lead to an increase of the confidence of investors to re-invest in European PV companies and European PV technology.
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