Hanwha Q CELLS confirms 19.1% cell efficiencies with 1366’s ‘Direct Wafer’ technology

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Hanwha Q CELLS has confirmed that its strategic partnership to collaborate on the development of 1366 Technologies proprietary ‘Direct Wafer’ technology has resulted in its R&D pilot line achieving 19.1% cell efficiencies.

Updated: Silicon Module Super League member Hanwha Q CELLS has confirmed that its strategic partnership to collaborate on the development of 1366 Technologies proprietary ‘Direct Wafer’ technology has resulted in its R&D pilot line achieving 19.1% cell efficiencies.

Hanwha Q CELLS noted that the cell efficiency gains had been 1.4% in just seven months. 

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

Finlay Colville, head of Solar Intelligence said: “The announcement is particularly interesting as it shows Hanwha Q CELLS continued interest in moving the curve forward for p-type multi c-Si cell operations, by looking both at efficiency increases but also cost reductions. Until now, none of the disruptive wafering approaches has offered any great challenge to directional solidification furnaces and multi-wire sawing, with the quasi-mono approach being the last big push a few years back, said Colville.

Daniel Jeong, global R&D head at Hanwha Q CELLS said: “These latest results demonstrate the potential in combining 1366´s Direct Wafer Technology with our unique Q.ANTUM technology. Together they can push the efficiency limits of multi-crystalline solar cell technology while at the same time reducing the cost significantly.”

Although Hanwha Q CELLS is not using the wafer technology in production, it said it would continue working with 1366 Technologies to bring the technology to maturity. 

1366 Technologies expects to reach 20% cell efficiencies before the end of the first half of 2016. The company will build its first 250MW wafer production plant in 2016 with plans to expand to 1GW in future phases to bring the technology to market.

“If 1366 can succeed in scaling current manufacturing levels to the GW level, then we will have a more representative indicator of whether the cell performance can be obtained reliably in volume. Also, this will help to see what cost reductions can be achieved and how this compares to existing best-of-class ingot and wafering of multi production that has seen large costs being shaved off, in the past few years,” added Coville.

Read Next

September 29, 2025
Indian solar manufacturer Waaree has said it does not expect to pay additional duties on its solar cell imports to the US, following the start of an antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigation by the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).
Premium
September 25, 2025
An anticipated uptick in US cell manufacturing presents opportunities for European PV tool producers, says RENA Technologies’ Michael Vees.
September 23, 2025
Boviet Solar has added an additional 1GW of manufacturing capacity to its module manufacturing plant in North Carolina.
September 18, 2025
Indian PV makers have welcomed the government’s plan to add solar wafers to its ALMM List-III from June 2028.
September 11, 2025
US cell manufacturer ES Foundry is proceeding with expansion plans despite a six-month delay due to recent trade and tax credit policy uncertainties.
Premium
September 11, 2025
PV CellTech USA: US cell manufacturer ES Foundry’s CEO Alex Zhu discusses his company's rapid ascent, strategic technology choices and the challenges of operating in a shifting policy environment.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland