Schmid’s selective emitter technology supports Sunrise Global Solar’s record 19.2% cell efficiencies

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Another day, another cell efficiency record as selective emitter technology from Schmid has been used to support a claimed new cell efficiency record by customer, Sunrise Global Solar of 19.2%. The cells were verified by the University of Konstanz and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.

Importantly, the cells were produced on standard volume production equipment, based on industrial grade 6” mono-crystalline wafer material with conventional screen printed aluminum backside.

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

“In Schmid’s combined printing and etching process, the high phosphorous doping layer on the cell is selectively etched and only remains in those places where contacts are subsequently printed – for this purpose a wax mask is applied by an inkjet-type printer,” noted Dr. Christian Buchner, Vice President of Schmid’s Cell Business Unit. “The utilization concept of the selective emitter increases the efficiency of the solar cell by up to 0.6 percent absolute.”

“The digital inkjet printing technology and the optical characterization techniques utilized create an outstanding level of precision and process stability. Moreover, with the extremely low investment requirement and with a view to minimizing the running costs involved, this technology is well positioned to withstand the continually rising cost pressure in solar cell production – the technology capabilities of the Schmid Group have once again been proven,” added Dr. Buchner.

Sunrise CEO, Hsu Kuei-Chang commented, “Module makers are consistently seeking differentiating characteristics, as a result of our continued leadership in high efficiency cells, our customer partners are ecstatic that we can supply them world beating efficiencies on a mass produced and cost competitive level”.

The use of selective emitter technology, primarily developed by a number of PV process equipment suppliers has been a key enabler of recent cell efficiency gains using conventional production equipment with minimum investment in new technologies.

Sunrise expects to have fully ramped its first high efficiency cell fab of 330MW within the next two months.

Read Next

October 14, 2025
German IPP wpd has started construction at its 140.6MW Marcy solar park in the Nièvre department of central France.
October 14, 2025
Levanta Renewables will develop a 166MWp ground-mounted solar and storage project in the Visayas Islands as part of the Philippines’ Fourth Green Energy Auction. 
October 14, 2025
India has installed 4.9GW of residential rooftop solar capacity in the first half of 2025, according to a report by IEEFA and JMK Research.
October 14, 2025
Apple will support 650MW of projects as part of a major expansion of its renewable energy investments in Europe, aimed at reducing its carbon footprint.
October 13, 2025
France’s Engie and the UAE’s Masdar have been chosen to jointly develop a 1.5GW PV power plant near Abu Dhabi.
Premium
October 13, 2025
Brett Beattie of Castillo Engineering looks at some of the key land grading work that can make multimillion-dollar differences to projects.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK