Sunways and ISFH used established screen printing technology for metallising silicon solar cells to achieve the record, under a joint development project with the aim to further increase the efficiency of silicon solar cells.

The work focused on the development of a highly efficient back for silicon solar cells, resulting in yield improvements in the long-wave range of the solar spectrum.

The approach combines the high efficiency potential of the new back with the tried and tested processability of solar cells that have been metallised by screen printing. The individual process steps for the production of the prototypes with an area of 155 cm2 were carried out at ISFH and under near-production conditions at Sunways.

Roland Burkhardt, Chief Technology Officer of Sunways, says: "An efficiency of more than 19% for silicon solar cells with screen-printed contacts is an internationally leading achievement."