RENA Technologies wins large orders from Asia for mono c-Si wafer texturing

March 13, 2017
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
RENA Technologies noted that the orders equated to the production capacity of more than 4.5GW of monocrystalline silicon solar cells, which included the RENA BatchTex ‘N400’ texturing tools. Image: RENA Technologies

Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier RENA Technologies has secured several major orders from Asia-based PV cell manufacturers for its alkaline texturing and junction isolation tools in the first quarter of 2017.

RENA Technologies noted that the orders equated to the production capacity of more than 4.5GW of monocrystalline silicon solar cells, which included the RENA BatchTex ‘N400’ texturing tools that enables high throughput alkaline texturing, as well as the RENA ‘InOxSide+’ inline systems that combines junction isolation and rear side smoothing for high efficiency solar cells.

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

“We are very happy that our customers continue to rely on the quality of our wet processing equipment to ramp their capacity in the field of high efficiency solar products,” states Dr. Christian Peter, VP Sales of RENA Technologies GmbH.

The monocrystalline solar cell equipment orders come on the back of a major order in September, 2016 from LONGi Solar, formerly LERRI Solar for the same equipment for the equivalent of 2GW of monocrystalline PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) solar cell production. 

New DWS texturing technology for multicrystalline wafers

RENA Technologies also said ahead of PV CellTech conference in Penang, Malaysia that it had developed texturing solutions for diamond wire sawn multicrystalline silicon wafers with its “InTex-E” process that uses metal-free chemistry based on HF/HNO3 etching solutions and allows for inline processing at similar footprints compared to conventional acidic texturing tools.

RENA Technologies highlighted that its InTex-E process allows for (weighted) reflection values well below the typical level of RW~26-28% for an acidic texture to values below RW<20%, indicating that its process could meet P-type multi specification requirements. Image: RENA Technologies

The industry-wide decline in wafer ASP’s has led to the adoption of diamond wire sawing (DWS) technology for multicrystalline silicon wafers that avoids using slurry chemicals. However, this creates challenges in providing a cost-effective solution for texturing the wafer surfaces to limit saw damage produced by diamond wire sawing. 

A keynote presentation at PV CellTech 2017 from Canadian Solar will highlight the challenges and solutions for multicrystalline wafers using diamond wire saws and texturing needs to keep P-type multi competitive with P-type mono on cost and cell conversion efficiency metrics, especially due to around 80% of solar cell manufacturing footprint currently dependent on P-type multi cells. 

RENA Technologies highlighted that its InTex-E process allows for (weighted) reflection values well below the typical level of RW~26-28% for an acidic texture to values below RW<20%, indicating that its process could meet P-type multi specification requirements. 

10 March 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will 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 out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

Sponsored
October 22, 2025
LONGi vice president Dennis She discusses the value logic behind the company's strategic focus on back contact technology.
October 20, 2025
Details of tariffs on US imports of polysilicon products may be announced as early as the end of this month, according to a note from investment bank Roth Capital.
Premium
October 14, 2025
OCI Holdings’ decision this week to buy a Vietnamese solar wafer facility to supply the US solar cell manufacturing industry makes clear the biggest vulnerability facing the sector today.
October 13, 2025
Korean chemical production firm OCI Holdings has acquired a 65% stake in a Vietnamese solar wafer production plant, intending to export solar wafers to the US.
October 13, 2025
US solar manufacturer T1 Energy has acquired a minority stake in fellow US-based solar cell producer Talon PV.
October 10, 2025
US solar recycling firm OnePlanet has achieved the R2v3 certification from electronics sustainability non-profit SERI, which represents the “highest standards of traceability”.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany