EU PVSEC 2015: Fraunhofer ISE spin-off NexWafe reports 20% EpiWafer yields

September 14, 2015
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Fraunhofer ISE spin-off, NexWafe will showcase new n-doped EpiWafers that have been processed into cells that achieve 20% conversion efficiencies at the European PV Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Hamburg this week. 

According to Fraunhofer ISE, the results which include mean minority carrier lifetimes have been demonstrated above 1000µs, indicating the same quality as n-type Cz wafers and achieve a short-circuit current of 39.6 mA/cm2, a world-record value for epitaxially grown silicon solar cells that were verified at the Fraunhofer ISE CalLab.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“This success attests to our fast progress made in only a few months since focusing on EpiWafers,” Dr. Stefan Janz, Head of the Department of Silicon Materials, said.

Dr. Stefan Reber, CEO of NexWafe added, “These values demonstrate that our EpiWafer technology is a game-changing technology. It accelerates the shift of the market towards high efficiency modules by providing high quality drop-in mono-crystalline EpiWafers at a very competitive price.”

NexWafe forms an EpiWafer via a thick crystalline silicon layer being epitaxially deposited and subsequently detached after growth to produce a freestanding EpiWafer of standard wafer thickness, while displacing conventional and costly process steps for standard mono and multicrystalline wafers. 

Read Next

March 10, 2026
A roundup of European solar stories, with developments from Sonnedix, Helleniq, Nuveen Infrastructure and Nord/LB.
March 10, 2026
The Tunisian government is seeking proposals for a 300MW/150MW solar-plus-storage project in the south of the country.
Premium
March 10, 2026
PV Tech Premium spoke with Philip Vyhanek, CEO of GameChange Solar, about the company's purchase of Terrasmart and wider solar industry dynamics.
March 10, 2026
The New South Wales (NSW) government has approved the 15MW Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia project in Moree, Australia.
March 9, 2026
Spanish independent power producer (IPP) Zelestra has secured a US$176 million green financing package for its 242MWdc Babilonia solar project in Peru. 
March 9, 2026
The latest domestic solar-grade polysilicon transaction prices from the Silicon Industry Branch of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association show that all domestic n-type solar-grade polysilicon products have plunged, with steep declines across the board.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain