01 January 2018 – 31 March 2020
Objective
The use of renewable energy is now becoming the only option to limit global warming. One of the possibilities of making renewable energy is using solar cells (photovoltaics). Most solar cells are made on a silicon substrate called wafer. The thickness of a silicon solar cell is about 200 µm.
During the wafering operation, 40 % of the silicon gets lost during this cutting step, the dust generated is called Si-kerf. Recent silicon cutting technology changes tend to facilitate Si-kerf recycling.
The solution (technology)
The SELISI project is aiming to recover and prepare this Si-kerf to re-inject it into Si production value chain at TRL 7. Recovery and Si-kerf preparation pilot line will be set-up. The aim of the project is to recycle the maximum amount of Si-kerf by making silicon ingots up to 100% recycled Si-kerf.
Partnership
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), France (Lead partner)
- ECM Greentech SAS, France
- Resitec AS, Norway