Since 2015, pv magazine‘s Technology Highlights feature has sought to bring together all of the latest advancements and most innovative products in PV ingot, wafer, cell and module production, and give special recognition to those with the highest potential to transform the industry.
The 2017 Technology Highlight's jury has selected the following innovations as joint winners of this year's award.
Schmid DW PreTex Solution
The smooth surface left behind by DW sawing can create problems at later stages, especially in multicrystaline silicon. Schmid’s DW Pretex solution addresses this, opening the way for cost effective diamond wire sawing in multi production.
“We are happy and honored to receive the award, it really confirms that we are on the right track,” says Christian Buchner, Vice President of the Photovoltaics Business Unit at Schmid. “With our solution we think we have hit the right spot with a simple, easy to use and inexpensive process, so that people can texture diamond wire-sawed multi wafers.”
MacDermid Enthone Helios PoSi Plating Process
Helios PoSi is an innovative copper plating technique that could replace screen printing for the metallization of solar cells. It utilizes an innovative laser ablation process to expose the silicon, after which nickel, copper and a small amount of silver is applied to the cell through electroplating. The process could dramatically reduce the amount of costly silver required in cell metallization.
“MacDermid Enthone greatly appreciates the recognition from our PV industry colleagues as a 2017 Technology Highlights Award recipient,” states Bruce Lee, Global Applications Manager for Photovoltaics at MacDermid Enthone. “We hope our investment in developing this novel metallization process will enable low cost expansion of the PV industry worldwide.”
Alongside these two winners, the 2017 Technology Highlights jury recognized an additional development as the ‘Technology to Watch’ for 2017.
Sinton Instruments FCT-750 Cell Tester
With its new tester, Sinton Instruments is bringing R&D level analysis to production lines. The FCT-750 enables advanced optimization of cells and modules, with measurements such as true series resistance and direct shunt.
“This recognition of our technology aligns with our mission and validates our goal. Changing the way things have always been done is not easy,” says Ron Sinton, founder and president at Sinton Instruments. “A comprehensive analysis at cell test can allow quick innovations on the production line to bring new processes up and precisely target problems before they can cause significant loss.”
All three award winners feature as a part of the special 20-page Technology Highlights feature, in the April edition of pv magazine. The feature highlights the top 30 ranked entrants to the award and spans the breadth of solar manufacturing today.
The 2017 award winners will officially be recognized during the SNEC trade show, next week in Shanghai. pv magazine and Heraeus are co-hosting a special “after work” function at The Brew, in the The Kerry Hotel, on the first night of SNEC 2017 (April 19), in Shanghai.
The editorial team here at pv magazine would like to thank all of the companies who entered, and the jury for sharing their valuable time with us. Full details of the 2017 Technology Highlights feature, in the April edition of pv magazine, can be found here.
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