Concentrator Sliver® Cells for CHAPS Concentrator Systems

The Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSES) at The Australian National University, with Origin Energy, has developed a novel cell fabrication process for single crystal silicon PV. The Sliver® cell fabrication process produces narrow and long cells. With some modifications to the current fabrication process it is possible to produce Sliver® cells suitable for concentrator systems with low to medium concentration ratios (10 to 40 suns). Such a concentrator cell may be considerably less costly to produce per unit area than conventional silicon concentrator cells. Already under development at CSES is a solar concentrator technology which is a suitable candidate for concentrator sliver® cells. The existing Combined Heat and Power Solar (CHAPS) systems operates at a concentration of around 30 suns, using mirrors to focus light onto solar cells. Following development of concentrator Sliver® cells it is proposed that the conventional cells be replaced by strings of series connected concentrator Sliver® cells. The strings of cells will be high voltage, low current devices. In this paper designs for cells suitable for concentrated sunlight applications are investigated using 2-D semiconductor device modelling software and the application of concentrator Sliver® cells to the current solar concentrator technology is explored. It is expected that the successful production of concentrator Sliver® cells will also pave the way for new concentrator PV technologies at ANU.