Optimised/Alternative Silicon Growth Technologies (from either liquid or gaseous phase) for PV Applications (EUPI-PV Partnership)
Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
Due to their efficiency and durability, crystalline silicon wafers are by far the most common absorber material used in the production of solar cells and modules today.
These wafers are primarily made using either a directional solidification that produces large-grained multi-crystalline (mc-Si) wafers with a greater defect density (and therefore almost out of production) or a solar-optimised Czochralski (Cz) growing method that produces crystalline silicon with low defect density (c-Si).
Detailed Call Description
In addition, “kerfless” silicon wafers can be grown directly either from molten silicon or from gaseous epitaxial deposition on a low-cost substrate at high temperature. To facilitate continued and rapid proliferation of Si photovoltaics, realizing new, more efficient and less energy and material intensive processes for silicon feedstock, ingots and wafers is sought. Therefore, proposals are expected to address at least one of the following challenges:
- Demonstrate alternative, efficient, and scalable (towards gigawatt capacity) processes or methods and equipment to grow silicon ingots and wafers from either liquid or gaseous phase at lower cost (with lower energy and material requirements) and high-quality compared to standard processes and possibly avoid the wafering step;
- Optimise standard processes and equipment for defect, impurities and structure loss minimisation, high-quality ingots with large diameters (for larger wafers) that allow for higher level of automation and kerf recycling and/or use of recycled silicon from waste solar modules and reduced energy use; optimise wafering.
Proposals are expected to involve multidisciplinary consortia including at least one silicon ingot and wafer manufacturer.
Whenever the expected exploitation of project results entails developing, creating, manufacturing and marketing a product or process, or in creating and providing a service, the plan for the exploitation and dissemination of results must include a strategy for such exploitation. The exploitation plan should include preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment (feasibility study, business plan) indicating the possible funding sources to be potentially used (in particular the Innovation Fund).
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
70%
Expected EU contribution per project: €9.00 million
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Other Thematic Category
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
Eligibility for Participation
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Services Providers
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
Address: 29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia, P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/
Persons to Contact:
Mr. Christakis Theocharous
Scientific Officer A’
Email: ctheocharous@research.org.cy
Mr. George Christou
Scientific Officer
Email: gchristou@research.org.cy