Heraeus and Tongwei team on next-gen solar cell material development

July 25, 2017
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
A key part of the collaboration revolves around joint R&D of front side silver paste, with the goal of setting the industry standard for high-efficiency products. Image: Tongwei

Major metallization paste producer Heraeus Photovoltaics has extended its supplier status with major China-based integrated PV module manufacturer, Tongwei Solar to collaborate on next-generation high-efficiency wafer and solar technologies. 

A key part of the collaboration revolves around joint R&D of front side silver paste, with the goal of setting the industry standard for high-efficiency products. 

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

Xie Yi, president of Tongwei Solar said, “As one of our key partners, Heraeus Photovoltaics, accounts for major share of our metallization paste supply and helps us achieve efficient performance in terms of multi-crystalline silicon cells. As the market requirements on production processes are becoming higher and higher and the technology roadmap has been constantly updated, we are very happy to partner with Heraeus Photovoltaics to embrace the future and new technologies, and to build longer, closer and more diverse partnership.” 

Tongwei Solar also has aggressive plans to expand capacity. Current solar cell capacity in Hefei, China stands at around 2.6GW with Phase 2 plans reaching around 5GW in the next 3 to 5 years. Overall solar cell capacity at Tongwei is expected to reach around 10GW by 2020.

Andreas Liebheit, President of Heraeus Photovoltaics added, “Heraeus and Tongwei Solar have cooperated for years. By working even closer and in a more focused manner, we believe we can set a new benchmark for the PV industry.”

Heraeus has been active in partnering with a number of emerging players in China, including Jolywood. Dedicated N-type monocrystalline module manufacturer Jolywood (Taizhou) Solar Technology Co. Ltd (Jolywood) recently collaborated with TUV NORD and the National Center of Supervision and Inspection on Solar Photovoltaic Product Quality (CPVT) to establish a preliminary testing standard for bifacial solar modules.

Heraeus also plans to collaborate with Tongwie on black silicon, PERC technology and other high-efficiency technologies.

13 October 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 13-14 October 2026 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023, 2024 and 2025 were a sell out success and 2026 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

January 21, 2026
LONGi Green, Tongwei, JA Solar, TCL Zhonghuan and Aiko Solar are projecting a combined 2025 deficit of RMB28.9-32.8 billion (US$4.1-4.7 billion).
January 19, 2026
Egyptian manufacturing firm Kemet has signed a deal with Chinese solar manufacturer GCL Technologies to build a 5GW solar cell and module manufacturing hub in the country.
January 19, 2026
Chinese polysilicon producer Daqo New Energy recorded over RMB1 billion in losses in 2025, roughly halving its losses compared with 2024.
January 16, 2026
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has partially ruled against solar manufacturer Maxeon in several claims against Canadian Solar.
January 14, 2026
Solar dominated employment in the renewable energy sector in 2024, accounting for over 40% of the global renewables workforce, the most of any sector.
Premium
January 14, 2026
Analysis: As Eging PV comes under pressure to repay investment in an incomplete manufacturing facility, China’s solar manufacturers face an uphill struggle to put recent challenges behind them.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
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