SPI 2013: 3M backside busbar tape reduces silver paste requirements

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

At Solar Power International 2013, 3M Renewable Energy is debuting its latest backside busbar tape, ‘4706’ which allows manufacturers to eliminate silver-based backside busbars, enabling cost savings and protecting against the volatility of silver prices.

In addition the 4706 backside busbar tape is claimed to have the potential to improve absolute efficiency by approximately 0.2%.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The tape can be bonded to aluminium pastes, commonly used on the back surface of crystalline solar cells, and provides reliable, low-resistance electrical contact comparable to backside silver busbars, providing potential to improve absolute efficiency by approximately 0.2%, according to the company.

The tape is a copper foil tape coated with a high-performance heat-curable adhesive on one side, with preliminary tests demonstrating a stable long-term electrical performance in damp heat and thermal cycling.

3M can be found at booth #426 at SPI. 

Read Next

June 26, 2025
PV solar cell manufacturer Halocell Energy has launched its first perovskite-based product called the Halocell Ambient Modules.
June 25, 2025
JinkoSolar has submitted a 133.76MWc solar-plus-storage project in New South Wales to the federal government under the EPBC Act.
June 25, 2025
Emmvee has secured INR15 billion (US$174 million) order for TOPCon bifacial solar modules from KPI Green Energy. 
June 25, 2025
The Spanish government has approved a series of measures aimed at reinforcing the electrical system and strengthening the supervision of operators.
June 25, 2025
State-owned firm Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has launched a solar-plus-storage tender seeking 1.2GW of solar PV.
June 25, 2025
The French National Assembly has rejected a proposal to implement a moratorium on utility-scale solar and wind projects.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico