SCHOTT Solar says serial-production of modules with an efficiency of up to 16% on module level by 2011.

Under the agreement, SCHOTT Solar gains access to Solland`s Sunweb® technology for back-contact solar cells and PV-modules, whereas Solland gains access to SCHOTT Solar`s experience in solar module engineering and production.

The aim is to achieve a faster market entrance of the Sunweb solar modules. And according to SCHOTT Solar and Solland, the solar modules feature a 10% higher module efficiency than conventional solar modules.

A module pilot production line will be built up at a Solland facility in the Netherlands.

"By combining the innovative technologies of Solland Solar and SCHOTT Solar, we achieve an improvement in product efficiency and can simultaneously reduce production costs for the future. This is to strengthen SCHOTT Solar`s brand to the benefit of our customers," says Dr. Martin Heming, CEO of SCHOTT Solar.

"Altogether with our skills in development and testing of cells and modules, we are able to assure high quality standards and therefore long lasting life cycles of all modules."

The core of the Sunweb technology is a back contact cell based on ‘Metal Wrap Through‘ (MWT) technology and with unique metallisation pattern on the front side.

The solar cells are integrated into the module making use of Solland’s In-Laminated Soldering (ILS) technology.