Improving the performance of silicon solar cell by optimizing metallization

Abstract

Solar energy exploitation through photovoltaic technology has demonstrated a sustainable way for curbing energy needs and cutting environmental issues happening due to emissions of carbon dioxide, CO2 from the usage of non-renewable energy resources. The purpose of this study was to reduce metallization by choosing optimal metallization on silicon photovoltaic wafer. Using numerical study, the effects of the number of busbars, fingers, and soldering/probe points were analyzed and also the study of the size of busbar and finger was carried out to find the optimal value for each which assures better performance. It is revealed that increasing the number and size of busbars, fingers, and probe points result in increasing fill factor, however, the efficiency of the device is limited to a number which provides the best optimal performance in terms of efficiency, whereas increasing the size (width) of the parameter result in a decrease in efficiency increasing shading factor. The optimal value of prescribed parameters was recorded as 4, 82, and 20 numbers of busbars, fingers, and probe points, respectively, while an optimal value of the width of busbar and finger is found as 0.5 mm and 60 µm, respectively. These values attained efficiency and fill factor above 20% and 80%, respectively. This study finds a realistic method to further diminish the metallization, improve the performance, and reduce the cost of often used industrial silicon photovoltaic cells.