Fraunhofer ISE, teamtechnik Find Possibility to Connect High Efficiency Silicon Solar Cells

The results of the joint research project ‘KleVer’ showed that the adhesive technology is ready for the market and can be used as an alternative to the widespread soft soldering interconnection technology.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and teamtechnik, an international leader in production technology, in a joint research reported that it is now possible to connect high efficiency solar cells using electrically conductive adhesives in series production.

The results of the joint research project ‘KleVer’ showed that the adhesive technology is ready for the market and can be used as an alternative to the widespread soft soldering interconnection technology.

Due to the much lower process temperatures of this technology compared to soldering, temperature-sensitive high efficiency solar cells can be connected using adhesives in a gentle and material-saving process.

In industrial production, the throughput is only slightly lower than with soldering. The reliability of the adhesive connection was confirmed in tests carried out in a climate chamber.

“In the last few years, we were able to greatly expand our expertise in connecting solar cells using electrically conductive adhesives and test this process on the laboratory scale. With the stringer unit, we were then able to further optimize the lead-free interconnection technology on the industrial scale,” explains Dr Achim Kraft, Project Manager and Team Head, Interconnection Technologies, Fraunhofer ISE.

Commenting on the achievement, teamtechnik, Project Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Axel Riethmüller said, “As manufacturer of high performance stringers, we are proud to hold a front position in connecting technology for temperature-sensitive heterojunction solar cells on an industrial scale through the development of this unit. We already have first orders coming in for the new stringers using this adhesive technique. This would not have been possible without the joint project with Fraunhofer ISE.”

The ‘KleVer’ project was financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy BMWi.