What You Need to Know About PERC Solar Cells
PERC solar modules are growing in the market, but what is PERC cell technology and what are its advantages?
To better understand PERC cell technology’s importance, let’s first review some common inefficiencies found in standard silicon solar panels. A standard solar panel cell contains two layers of silicon, commonly called “n-type” and “p-type” for their negative and positive charge behaviour.
A solar panel creates electricity when sunlight hits the solar cells, knocking electrons loose from the n-type layer as the p-type layer accepts them, creating an electric field.
A simplified cross-section of a silicon solar cell. Sunlight (orange) hits the solar cell and the light knocks electrons (blue) loose within the silicon material. Electrons that make their way to the electrical contact can then flow through an attached circuit, providing electrical energy.
Within a solar cell, some efficiency is lost when light is not converted to electrons, or the resulting electrons don’t make their way to the rear for contact. Researchers are constantly working to reduce these losses.
Most silicon modules have layers that help avoid losses; the front layer reduces reflection losses and also prevents electrons from being lost on the front edge. The rear back surface field repels electrons, reducing the number that make it to the rear contact.
What Is PERC?
