SMARTIES Cluster Projects

Cluster Team for the Horizon Europe projects: BURST, TERASUN, and SiLEAN. Our team brings together experts and innovators working collaboratively under the Horizon Europe framework to drive advancements in sustainable Si PV solar cell technology. Each project—BURST, SiLEAN, and TERASUN—targets critical areas for achieving higher efficiency and minimising costs. Through this cluster, we aim to leverage synergies between the projects, share knowledge, and maximize the impact of our collective efforts across Europe.

Towards Terawatt Production of c-Si Solar Photovoltaics

High costs and supply chain risks hinder the widespread adoption of c-Si PV solar cell technology. The EU-funded TERASUN project will develop technologies aimed at enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of c-Si PV solar cells. One key focus is innovating Si heterojunction (SHJ) solar cell technology to achieve higher efficiencies and lower costs. Additionally, the project aims to integrate nanophotonic structures onto module cover glass to minimise reflection and improve overall performance. TERASUN will also create advancements in low-cost metallisation, direct bandgap architectures, and novel heterojunction contacts. These innovations are pivotal in approaching the theoretical efficiency limit of 29.43 % at the cell level and reducing cell-to-module losses to optimise energy yield.

Breaking Limits Using Record Enabling Silicon Technology With Photonic Management

The BURST project aims to enhance the power conversion efficiency of interdigitated back-contact (IBC) c-Si technology by achieving efficiencies of at least 26% with thin cells and 27% with thick cells, without relying on critical materials like indium or silver. The project focuses on advanced light management, superior passivation schemes, and Ag-free metallization to maximize light absorption and prevent recombination. The high-efficiency BURST cells will be assembled into mini-modules, with detailed analysis of costs, environmental impact, supply security, and circularity to demonstrate the technology’s advantages in relevant environments.

Silicon solar cells with Low Environmental footprint and Advanced interfaces

To meet the growing energy demand, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower electricity costs, highly efficient and cost-effective photovoltaic (PV) technologies with low carbon footprints are essential. SiLEAN is a 3-year project addressing key challenges such as the high energy and material requirements for Si wafer manufacturing, limited current generation, and the use of scarce materials like silver, bismuth, and indium. In the project, a lean process chain will be developed for the next generation of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells. Our strategy involves utilizing epitaxially-grown wafers that require less energy, developing alternatives to the highly absorptive hydrogenated amorphous silicon for passivation and carrier-selective contacts, creating indium-free contact layers and silver-free metallization concepts, and implementing bismuth-free interconnection methods. Our goal is to achieve solar cell efficiencies greater than 25.5% and module efficiencies over 23.5%, while reducing Si wafer and contacting costs by 50% and lowering the carbon footprint by up to 75%.