Complete Report - University of New South Wales

HIGHLIGHTS
Cell Efficiency World Record
The Centre’s high-effi ciency group demonstrated an independently-confi rmed energy
conversion effi ciency of 22.7% for a large area 22 cm2 cell fabricated on an n-type silicon
substrate, equalling the world-record for a cell on such substrates. Other fi rst generation work
within the buried-contact group resulted in further progress in developing low-cost sequences
on such n-type substrates. Highlights include improved energy conversion effi ciency, opencircuit
voltage and levels of surface passivation. Another highlight was the rapid development
of applications of photoluminescence techniques for device and material characterisation, as
a result of strong collaboration with the Centre’s silicon photonics group.
Technology Commercialisation
2005 was another exciting year for
the photovoltaic industry with global
production increasing 45%, building
on the record 67% growth during
2004. Annual sales of BP Solar
of the Centre’s fi rst generation,
buried contact technology again
exceeded the $100 million mark,
with the company announcing a
new, higher performance module
using this technology during 2005.
The increasing international profi le
of photovoltaics has resulted in an
increasingly high visibility on fi nancial
markets. Suntech Power, a largely
Australia-owned company operating
in China and a partner in the Centre
partner, commenced trading on
the New York Stock Exchange in
December, in what became the
largest technology-based initial public
offering of 2005, internationally.
The Centre has been working with
the company to bring high-effi ciency,
fi rst generation cell concepts into
production, including those based
on semiconductor fi nger technology
(below). A second Centre member,
CSG Solar, successfully took Centre
“second-generation” crystallinesilicon-on-glass
technology a
major step closer to large scale
production, with the competition
of the fi rst manufacturing plant in
Germany. The fi rst product is due on
the market in 2006, with production
capacity also expected to approach
the $100 million/year mark by the
end of the year.
Former student, Zhengrong Shi, rings the bell to open the NYSE after the
Suntech IPO (Centre directors Stuart Wenham (right) and Martin Green
(left) are in the background next to the President of the NYSE, Catherine
Kinney and CEO John Thain, respectively)
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