This paper summarizes the results of three-year joint venture between the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (Alliance) and Siemens Solar (SSI) to reduce electrical energy use of Czochralski (CZ) hotzones for growing silicon ingots used to make silicon solar cells. It also discusses a spin-off project with Advanced Silicon Materials LLC (ASiMI) to further reduce embedded energy by developing and certifying dendritic (teardrop) polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) as an alternative feedstock to CZ rods or granular polysilicon. The first project saved over 50% (25 kilowatt-hours per kilogram) and reduced Argon gas consumption by 85%. The dendritic polysilicon project is expected to reduce process energy by 25% (another 50 to 63 kWh/kg). These two steps of the overall process normally consume 250 to 300 kWh/kg but now they will require only 175 to 200 kWh/kg, an overall reduction of 30%.
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ASME Solar 2002: International Solar Energy Conference
June 15–20, 2002
Reno, Nevada, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Solar Energy Division
ISBN:
0-7918-1689-3
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Production Process Improvements for the Manufacture of Silicon Photovoltaic Solar Cells Available to Purchase
Kenneth J. Anderson,
Kenneth J. Anderson
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Portland, OR
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Michael Ponder,
Michael Ponder
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Portland, OR
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Ron Reis
Ron Reis
Advanced Silicon Materials, LLC, Moses Lake, WA
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Kenneth J. Anderson
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Portland, OR
Michael Ponder
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Portland, OR
Greg Mihalik
Siemens Solar, Vancouver, WA
Bryan Fickett
Siemens Solar, Vancouver, WA
Ron Reis
Advanced Silicon Materials, LLC, Moses Lake, WA
Paper No:
SED2002-1054, pp. 205-210; 6 pages
Published Online:
January 5, 2009
Citation
Anderson, KJ, Ponder, M, Mihalik, G, Fickett, B, & Reis, R. "Production Process Improvements for the Manufacture of Silicon Photovoltaic Solar Cells." Proceedings of the ASME Solar 2002: International Solar Energy Conference. Solar Energy. Reno, Nevada, USA. June 15–20, 2002. pp. 205-210. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/SED2002-1054
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