What is the emitter of a solar panel

What are some examples of selective emitter solar cells?

An early example of this technology was the BP solar Saturn Cells and the Suntech Pluto cells. Whilst it is common to think of selective emitter solar cells as front and rear contact solar cells, the principle of select localised regions of heavy doping can also apply to all-back contact solar cells.

What is a PERC solar panel?

PERC stands for “Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell” and refers to a modification of traditional crystalline silicon solar cells. By adding special layers to the back of the cell, PERC technology enables panels to operate more efficiently and generate more electricity from the same amount of sunlight.

How do solar panels work?

Solar panels seem simple enough - sunlight hits them, knocks electrons free in silicon cells, and generates electricity. But there’s constant innovation happening under the hood as scientists find new ways to tweak solar cell design and get more power out of each panel.

Can an etch back form a selective emitter solar cell?

Whilst it is common to think of selective emitter solar cells as front and rear contact solar cells, the principle of select localised regions of heavy doping can also apply to all-back contact solar cells. In the animation below we show the how an etch back can be used to form a selective emitter.

What is a crystalline silicon emitter?

The top layer is referred to as the emitter and the bulk material is referred to as the base. Bulk crystalline silicon dominates the current photovoltaic market, in part due to the prominence of silicon in the integrated circuit market. As is also the case for transistors, silicon does not have optimum material parameters.

Why do solar panels use PERC cells?

The increased conversion efficiency of PERC cells is particularly important for solar panel installations where space is limited, such as rooftop solar systems. By generating more electricity per unit of area, PERC cells allow for more power to be generated from a given amount of space.