The authors describe here the progress made in the Phase 4A2 PVMaT program carried out at ASE Americas on technology improvements for module manufacturing cost reductions of edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) wafer-based photovoltaic products. This work is directed at tasks necessary for cost effective scaling up of EFG technology from the current 4 MW and toward meeting long term high volume manufacturing goals and cost targets of around $1/W. Current PVMaT program objectives are to lower costs through: yield improvements in crystal growth and laser cutting; reduction of EFG solar cell thickness from 300 to 250 microns; raising of the average cell efficiency from 13.5% to 15% through manufacturing line improvements and new technology introduction; reduction of environmental waste in cell processing; and simplification of processes and reduction of costs in the cell interconnect and module assembly area. The authors discuss in detail the cost reductions achieved to date.
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