NEXT ENERGY's scientists researching thin-film solar cells / Energy research centre introduces modern test facility

Oldenburg (ots) - In the industrial sector and in the field of
applied research it is believed that thin-film photovoltaics, which
are economical in terms of both the material used and their cost,
will be the technological advancement that makes using solar energy a
viable and competitive option. The EWE Research Centre for Energy
Technology NEXT ENERGY is also involved in developing this promising
new generation of solar cells. It is focusing on silicon thin-film
solar cells, which have a great deal of potential in significantly
reducing the cost of producing electricity from solar energy.
However, much hard work and research still needs to go into making
these solar cells considerably more efficient.

The EWE Research Centre NEXT ENERGY is a research institute
affiliated with the Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg. Its
focus is on industrial research, as well as long-term research
projects and basic research. Around 60 scientists are employed here
in the areas of photovoltaics, energy storage and fuel cells.

The photovoltaics department recently acquired a cutting-edge
coating machine for the deposition of silicon layers, transparent
conducting oxides (TCOs) and metals. This makes it possible to
produce small modules up to 15x15 centimetres in size. Along with the
research facility, there is also a fully equipped laser structuring
facility and state-of-the-art characterisation laboratories; these
provide the measuring technology essential for developing solar cells
quickly and efficiently.

From early summer, NEXT ENERGY researchers will be able to produce
single and tandem silicon thin-film solar cells using a baseline
process. In a tandem design, two solar cells are put on top of each
other, both of which can absorb light of different wavelengths or
colours. One way to do this is by using amorphous and
microcrystalline silicon. Accordingly, tandem solar cells are more
efficient than simple solar cells. NEXT ENERGY researchers are
looking to improve this baseline process step by step. "We will be
running a series of comprehensive numerical solar cell simulations
and then implementing them in practical experiments to find ways in
which we can improve the structure of the solar cell," explains Dr.
Karsten von Maydell, the head of NEXT ENERGY's photovoltaics
department.

NEXT ENERGY is already hard at work on the next step of
developing innovative improvements towards a triple-junction solar
cell. Stacking three solar cells on top of each other would greatly
improve the efficiency of silicon thin-film technology. NEXT ENERGY
scientists are successfully using comprehensive simulations to
develop design criteria for solar cell structures like these.

The processes involved in the mass production of high-performance
thin-film solar modules are extremely sensitive and have to be
monitored continuously. For this reason, the Oldenburg-based
researchers are also developing measurement methods and guidelines to
make it possible to examine the properties of layers and layer
systems quickly in a wide range of production processes.

Originaltext: NEXT ENERGY - EWE-Forschungszentrum für Energietechnologie e.V.
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Press contact:
Anne-Katrin Faasch
Public Relations
anne-katrin.faasch@next-energy.de

Photovoltaics contact:
Dr. Karsten von Maydell
Head of Division Photovoltaics
karsten.von.maydell@next-energy.de

NEXT ENERGY
EWE Research Centre for Energy Technology e.V.
Carl-von-Ossietzky-Strasse 15
26129 Oldenburg, Germany
T +49 441 99906-0
F +49 441 99906-109
www.next-energy.de