In order to remove these bottlenecks, the main objectives of NanoPV are:
- To develop technologies that can increase the efficiency and reduce the processing cost of existing silicon solar cell technologies using nano-scale effects provided by nano-materials to above 20% for wafer based and above 15 % for thin film silicon based solar cells at a processing cost for modules well below 1 EURO/watt.
- To design and to fabricate low cost solar cells entirely from nano-materials by using nanostructures. An efficiency of above 10 % at processing costs well below 1 EURO/watt is targeted with potential of further significant improvements in the future.
- To develop up-scalable cost effective processes and equipment in order to implement both enhanced standard solar cells and solar cell based on nano-materials as well as related modules to existing pilot and industrial lines.
- To create new market opportunities for the industrial partners.
Nano-technology will be applied for both already existing conventional Si solar cells (wafer and thin-film based) and for advanced solar cells entirely based on nanostructures.
The main scientific efforts will be on understanding and exploitation of such nano-materials as i) 0D quantum dots, nano-crystals and nano-particles, ii) 1D nano-wires and nano-rods, and iii) 2D nano-materials such as ultrathin layers. A large number of specialised technologies will be applied in the project. Therefore, in order to ensure successful completion, a comparatively large consortium of 9 complementary research partners and 3 industries has been assembled.
Funded under 7th FWP (Seventh Framework Programme)
For more information, see the home page: http://www.sintef.no/nanoPV/