SINTEF Materials and Chemistry has substantial activity related to photovoltaics and solar cell technology. The activities are centered around two aspects; - new sources and production methods for silicon to solar cell applications and - fundamental research on materials for photovoltaics. In our work on new sources for feedstock to the solar cell industry, we are involved in a number of EU projects and programmes in collaboration with european industry, universitites and research institutes. This activity are directed by Dep. of Matallurgy.

Within the field of photovoltaic materials research, Dep. of Energy Conversion and Materials work in close collaboration with the rapidly growing norwegian industry in this sector, with financial support from the Norwegian Research Council. Our main industrial partners in this field are Elkem, REC and ScanWafer, while NTNU and IFE are our main partners on the R&D side. In particular, the project Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells - Cost Reduction can be mentioned. In this project, fundamental research on silicon as a photovoltaic material is conducted in order to lower the cost of electricity from solar cells. The project is supported by the RENERGI program within the Norwegian Research Council.

SINTEF Materials and Chemistry has together with NTNU invested in advanced laboratory facilities for the production as well as characterization of silicon based materials for solar cell applications. A uniqe pilot furnace for directional solidification of silicon ingots, together with advanced characterization equipment cover the chain from raw materials to characterized wafers.

SINTEF Materials and Chemistry work in collaboration with IFE which runs a pilot line for processing of solar cells from wafers and together we cover the whole production chain from raw materials to solar cells.