Reasons for 3rd edition of the Si-Materials workshop
The Si-Materials workshop series target specific issues in the field of crystalline silicon materials for photovoltaic applications. The workshop presentations and discussion sessions rotate around this topic.
The workshop’s main character is to be at the interface between silicon material technologies and cell- and module technologies.
3rd edition of the Si-Materials workshop
Now, in 2016, we are launching the 3rd edition of the Si-Materials workshop. The market situation has changed again. The PV industry is coming out from dark economical and financial situations. Now is the time where new technologies can be implemented to keep and further increase this positive trend.
We will focus the discussion and the debate over new technologies available and in R&D phase for the PV industry. In this market situation, an often mentioned topic is the ongoing debate between p- and n-type silicon together with silicon defect mitigation processes. These topics will be the core of the Si-Materials workshop 3rd edition.
The questions we will debate are:
- What the industry will take over in 3 and 5 years’ time?
- How new technology options are evaluated and chosen by different parts of the PV value chain and PV market?
- What are the perspective for very high efficiency solar cells and modules with respect to the materials characteristics?
- What are the current challenges silicon materials are facing?
Location and joining forces with CSSC workshop in 2016 edition
In 2016 a multitude of events and conferences are already in the PV agenda. Also, we observe that some large events and conferences, like EUPVSEC and Intersolar Europe, are organizing their event concurrently.
In this context we would like to offer to both the participant of the Silicon Materials (Si-Materials) and Crystalline Silicon for Solar Cells (CSSC) workshops a joint and unique event organized in Arizona US and hosted by Arizona State University (ASU).
The CSSC workshop is now at the 9th edition. The workshop focuses on the silicon material and the substrate with strong attention on solidification.
The Si-Materials workshop is at the 3rd edition. Its character is to target a particular topic in silicon materials and offer a platform for universities, research institutes and PV industries to discuss views and opinion. The workshop typically focuses on the interface between silicon materials and cell- and module technologies.
In Arizona we will combine both workshops in a unique concurrent event.
Participation
Scientists are invited to submit their work selecting the session where they aim to contribute. The scientific committee will review the contribution and propose the programme of the workshop to the organising committee.
For further information on the program and the registration please visit http://events.engineering.asu.edu/cssc-simat-workshop/
History
The first workshop was organized in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2008. The focus was on solar-grade feedstock specifications. At that time the poly-silicon shortage necessitated the redefinition of solar grade silicon and its specifications. The workshop resulted in a tentative and approximate standard set of specifications for solar grade silicon suitable for the fabrication of solar cells which were taken as basis for the discussion and the formulation of the SEMI standard on polysilicon issued in 2009.
The second workshop was organized in Rome, Italy in 2013 and focused on the challenges for Si materials. The main debates were around mono- and multi-crystalline silicon from the different perspective of wafer, cell and module producers and customers in a market dominated by oversupply of PV modules. The outcome was reported in the editorial of a special edition of Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Volume 130, November 2014, from page 629.