Efficiency improvement on the multicrystalline silicon wafer through six sigma methodology

Abstract

Crystalline silicon solar cell technology continues to be dominant in the photovoltaic (PV) technology due to its novel process flow and the clear understanding of the material. Being a mature material-based technology; on the one hand, it has quite a few opportunities for improvement, on the other hand, the expansion of solar energy should depend on this technology. Due to increase in the global energy consumption and high competition level in the market, it has become necessary to show significant improvement in the performance of the present process/product. The demand for high efficiency solar cells at low costs with shorter cycle times forced the manufacturing industries to improve their processes by applying systematic methodologies such as Six Sigma. This paper illustrates the importance of anti-reflective coatings (ARCs) on the silicon solar cell processes and the successful implementation of Six Sigma to improve the efficiency of the silicon solar cells. The different phases of the Six Sigma DMAIC approach applied to the process and the results are interpreted. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.