Creating electricity by reducing cost, payback time and Carbon foot print - An exploitation of a novel method into manufacturing Cyrstalline Silicon Photovoltaic solar Cells

Stage: Round 3

Photovolatic (PV) solar cells are renewable energy devices that convert the energy of light directly into electricity. The cost of PV devices remains very high and are often unaffordable for low-income communities. In this project De Montfort University are testing the use of silicon structures for application in PV to assess the benefits of low temperature processes, less power consumption, and a reduction in heat dissipation to the environment to reduce PVs carbon footprint. This is done so that structures can be deposited onto affordable, flexible plastic substrates. The process is scalable and compatible with an already existing industrial process (PECVD) and reduces manufacturing costs. The project’s aim is to better understand the potential benefits of using this process for PVs.