BLACK SILICON BIPV – PHASE 2, Cost and energy effective all-black solar panel for building integration with maximum aesthetic value

The objective of the EUDP project is to develop and manufacture a novel type of solar panel based on a new type of solar cell (black silicon solar cell), which – apart from a high and preferably improved efficiency and an implementable and cheaper production method – should have several significant advantages in terms of building integration. The black solar cells will be further processed to make the front conducting grid completely black through an electrochemical deposition technology. The tabbing wires interconnecting the cells in the panel will be processed into non-reflecting black strings in a scalable, inorganic electrochemical process step securing a completely black appearance of the solar panel later produced. A compatible panel production process with traditional PV panel process will be demonstrated for the total black silicon BIPV module.

The major activities in the project are:

• Investigation of interconnection method and choice of interconnection strategy
• Development of black electroplating methods to make the front metal busbars black
• Design and production of Black Silicon cells with black busbars
• Development and demonstration of a module technology supporting the all black silicon cell
• Market demonstration of prototypes
• Development of a cost effective direct process yielding black busbar strings for cell interconnection
• Development of a Black Silicon solar cell module that supports the developed metallization process
• Secure electrical contact to the black busbar strings
• Design and specification of a flexible module production method for the all-black solar cell
• Manufacturing of a 0-series