Trina Solar said that it will engage SERIS to provide research and development services to develop a high efficiency crystalline solar cell by printing contacts on the cell’s rear to increase front surface exposure to sunlight.
The company targets to realize up to 21.5% production efficiency, and up to 23.5% laboratory test efficiency, with project completion within three years following commencement in June 2010. In exchange for the project’s intellectual property rights, Trina Solar will cover the cost of the research project.
Dr Huang Qiang, vice president of technology at Trina Solar, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with SERIS, Singapore’s national institute for applied solar energy research, to develop and embark on this innovative cell process technology.
“We are confident that the combination of our leading manufacturing capabilities with high-quality research from SERIS, will lead to further increases in the efficiency of our crystalline silicon solar cells, which we plan to integrate into our production lines by 2013.”
Prof Armin Aberle, Cluster Director ‘Silicon Photovoltaics’ at SERIS, said: “We are excited to have this opportunity to work with Trina Solar in the development phase of this advanced solar cell technology. We expect the technology to be transferred to the production line and ready for commercial production within the next three years.”
