The production of silicon solar cells The production of a typical silicon solar cell ( Fig. 2) starts with the carbothermic reduction of silicates in an electric arc furnace. In this process large amounts of electrical energy break the silicon–oxygen bond in SiO 2 via an endothermic reaction with carbon.
The production of solar-grade silicon, that is mainly used in solar and electrical applications, from metallurgical-grade silicon requires the reduction in impurities by five orders of magnitude via the so-called metallurgical route [5, 6, 7, 8]. Directional solidification (DS) is an essential step in this approach.
The crystalline silicon technology manufacturing process is based on the fabrication of the solar cell from a crystalline or polycrystalline silicon wafer. There are three big steps: silicon processing to fabricate the wafer, cell manufacture from this wafer, and a final step of cell encapsulation towards the full module manufacture.
However, challenges remain in several aspects, such as increasing the production yield, stability, reliability, cost, and sustainability. In this paper, we present an overview of the silicon solar cell value chain (from silicon feedstock production to ingots and solar cell processing).
Solar panels or PV modules are made by assembling solar cells into a frame that protects them from the environment. A typical PV module consists of a layer of protective glass, a layer of cells and a backsheet for insulation. In silicon PV module manufacturing, individual silicon solar cells are soldered together, typically in a 6×10 configuration.
We discuss the major challenges in silicon ingot production for solar applications, particularly optimizing production yield, reducing costs, and improving efficiency to meet the continued high demand for solar cells. We review solar cell technology developments in recent years and the new trends.