Mass production technology for multicrystalline Si solar cells

Worldwide shipments of PV modules in the last 10 years show an increase of about 20% per year; shipments were 277 MW in 2000. About 80% of modules are made front crystalline silicon. Shipments of multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) modules have shown substantial increase. The PV market may be expected to increase by the development of low-cost, and high-technology multicrystalline silicon solar cells. This paper reviews recent progress in mass production technologies of mc-Si solar cells. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.