Silfab Solar has been awarded a $20 million innovation award by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to further its goal of becoming a national leader in U.S.-produced, next-generation solar cells. The project aims to develop back-contact N-type cells with efficiencies of 26 percent or higher. These innovations will be developed on a 300-MW pilot line at Silfab’s new South Carolina facility, alongside the main N-type cell manufacturing. The initiative will facilitate the rapid scale-up of cost-effective, back-contact cell technology into high-volume production of Silfab’s next line of premium PV solar modules.
In addition to this award, the DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has selected Silfab for a separate $500,000 project to develop high-efficiency building-integrated PV (BIPV) modules. These solar spandrels, featuring opaque glass suitable for the non-transparent glass surfaces between floors of commercial and high-rise buildings, will be demonstrated at Silfab’s West Coast plant in Washington. The project focuses on merging conventional module manufacturing with construction practices for glass-walled facades.
“Silfab Solar is leading the way in U.S. integration of innovative solar cells and modules by investing in research and development that allows us to deliver the most advanced, powerful, and reliable PV solar for commercial, residential, and soon, BIPV customers,” said Paolo Maccario, Silfab President and CEO. “The DOE awards are a testament to Silfab’s commitment to innovation and the strength of our engineering team to deliver significant advancements in solar technologies.”
Silfab has been selected as one of the few beneficiaries of the SETO Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator Funding Program. This program supports projects that aim to reduce solar costs while developing next-generation solar technologies and boosting American solar manufacturing and job creation.
Over the past several years, Silfab has dedicated strategic resources to managing accelerated, sustainable growth and expanding its U.S. operations. The company’s newest factory in South Carolina will soon add 1 gigawatt of American-made cell production and an additional 1.3 gigawatts of module production.
As part of the federal government’s SETO program to provide community benefits, Silfab Solar has launched workforce development initiatives and school outreach programs to encourage youth to consider careers in renewable energy, among other efforts.
