Feb 16 2010
Origin Energy has developed a new SLIVER technology that is utilized for developing SLIVER modules and cells. This technology helps to produce thinner solar cells, which are more efficient than solar cells produced using other technologies. The SLIVER technology incorporates a micromachining technique for producing solar cells. This technique results in the formation of deep narrow grooves, which lie perpendicular to the wafer surface. These deep narrow grooves have an overall width of less than 40 microns, while the silicon wafer used in the production of solar cells has a thickness that varies between 1 to 2 millimeters.
The micromachining technique used in the SLIVER technology, developed by Origin Energy, produces a large number of thin silicon strips with a total thickness ranging from 50 microns to 80 microns approximately. These strips are held firmly on the center of the wafer with the help of wafer surrounds. The SLIVER technology produces silicon strips whose length ranges from 600 millimeters to 800 millimeters, while the width varies from 1 millimeter to 2 millimeters. Silicon solar cells are produced on these silicon strips.
The solar cells produced using this technology, developed by Origin Energy, possess characteristics that include an ultra thin texture as well as a bifacial and high power to weight ratio. The bifacial characteristic results in higher energy production and also facilitates the use of solar cells for building applications and construction of road sound barriers. These cells have a low voltage temperature coefficient of -2.0 millivolt per degree centigrade that accounts for high module efficiency.