NextBase

The NextBase project was part of a European Union’s Horizon2020 Programme project consisting of 14 partners from 8 European countries. It ran from 2016-2019. Visit the project website here: www.nextbase-project.eu/.

The "Next-generation interdigitated back-contacted silicon heterojunction solar cells and modules by design and process innovations," or NextBase project, focused on the development of innovative high performance c-Si solar cells and modules based on the interdigitated back-contacted silicon heterojunction (IBC-SHJ) solar cell concept targeting cells with efficiency above 26.0% and corresponding solar modules with efficiency above 22.0%. At the same time, the NextBase project pursues the development of a new industrial manufacturing tool and low-cost processes enabling a competitive IBC-SHJ solar module cost of < 0.35 €/Wp.

The PVMD group at TU Delft contributed to the project through our expertise in optics, thin-film processing, solar cells fabrication and modelling. In part of the project, we integrated our modulated surface texture in high quality c-Si wafers for maximising absorption of light. We also worked on the development of a high band gap carrier-selective passivating contacts and innovative front surface treatments. Furthermore, we utilized our self-aligned process for fabricating high efficiency IBC solar cells. Finally, we individuated sources of optical and electrical losses and indicate how to overcome them by means of multi-dimensional opto-electrical modelling.

People:

• Dr. Olindo Isabella, Associate Professor

Research Line: Adapting Photovoltaics Technology, High-efficiency Solar Cells