Reaching grid parity using BP Solar crystalline silicon technology

This paper reports on BP Solar's DOE sponsored Technology Pathways Partnership. The paper presents the goals, the technical approach and progress for two years. The overall goals of the program are to reach grid parity for residential and commercial markets and to increase production volumes. This program is addressing all aspects of the PV product chain including: • Solar grade silicon (SGS) development; • Implementation of Mono²™ technology (single crystal quality at multi cost); • Wafering thinner wafers using thinner wire; • Optimized cell process for thin Mono²™ to achieve a cell efficiency of 18 % in 2010; • Lower module material costs and products designed for integration into specific roof types; • Automation and process control for handling hundreds of cells per minute and; • Inverters designed with the capability to dispatch batteries. Specific accomplishments reported on in this paper include: • A manufacturing trial of Mono²™ technology from casting through module production; • Product development for a utility scale module; • Development of ThermoCool™ encapsulant to reduce module operating temperatures; • Work with Dow Corning to qualify a silicone based encapsulation system and; • Evaluation of measured versus modeled module and array performance