From 1958, China started to develop first piece of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells has been, up to now have been through half a century. PV experts, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Solar Energy Research Institute, Rong-Qiang Cui told reporters: “China’s solar cell has also experienced something out of nothing, from space to the ground,
laptop battery from the military to the people, from small to large, from single species to multiple species as well as the photoelectric conversion efficiency from low to high the difficult but brilliant course. ”
According to statistics, from 2002 to now, China’s solar cell production soared 77-fold. In 2008, China’s output of solar cells account for about one-third of world output for two consecutive years become the world’s largest solar cell producer.
1839 French physicist Henri Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect for the first time; the United States in 1954, a Bell Labs produced the first silicon solar cell; established in California in 1983, the United States at that time the world’s largest solar power plant … … human has never stopped chasing the pace of the sun.
In 1969 to complete development of silicon solar battery
In 1958, China developed the first block of monocrystalline silicon
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences researcher Wang Zhan-Guo told reporters: “The United States pulled out in 1957 around the first block of silicon single crystal, China in 1958, has also developed the first block of silicon single crystal, followed by Chinese Academy of Sciences Physics The new laboratory started research and development of semiconductor solar cells. ”
At first, developed mainly for battery space. From 1958 to 1965, the semiconductor developed by the PN junction cell efficiency by leaps and bounds, 10 × 20mm cell efficiency stabilized at 15% or less with the international standards.
From 1968 to 1969 the end of the semiconductor undertaken for the “Practice-1 satellite for the” development and production of silicon solar panels tasks. In the study, researchers found, P + / N silicon monolithic solar cells in space to encounter when running electronic radiation attenuation caused by the battery, so that the battery can not be a long time in space to run.
As a result, including Wang Zhanguo, including six-member team began silicon solar radiation effects satellite research, experiment, due to technical immaturity and obsolete equipment, resulting in a serious e-Zhan-Guo Wang’s right hand burns since then he has been suffering, carried out until the summer of 1978, began to ease skin grafting. The reporter noticed, Wang Zhan-Guo academician right hand there are some black folds, which is the older generation of scientists have racked their brains dedicated to the scientific stamp of approval.
After painstaking research, experimental results to the researchers a huge surprise. Academician Wang Zhanguo, NP junction silicon solar cells the ability of anti-electron irradiation than the PN junction silicon cells were several times! Subsequently, the semiconductor silicon PN that will be made to replace the battery put into production NP finalized the decision to produce a 5690 NP junction silicon solar cells, which meet requirements of space applications finished 3350, successfully completed the “Practice No. 1″ satellite with the solar panels for the development, production tasks. 1971 was launched on the 1st of practice, in the 8-year lifetime, solar power will decline less than 15% down, the project in 1978 by the National Science Conference Award for significant results.
In 1969, the semiconductor silicon solar cells by the end of the R & D, followed by Tianjin 18 for the DFH-II, III, IV series of satellites in geosynchronous orbit to develop and produce solar array.
Wang Zhan-Guo academician said: “The 70 end of the decade, China and the international year study carried out gallium arsenide solar cells, the cell has high light emission and light absorption coefficient, 1999, 2 × 2cm2 cell conversion efficiency of 22%.”
1975 Ningbo Kaifeng has set up solar cell factory, the battery manufacturing process to imitate the early production space battery technology, the application of solar cells began to land on the ground from space.
Hi-Tech 12 pairs of poly silicon rod to restore the
In 1998, China’s solar energy industry has been the first “to eat crab” who
80s of the last century began, China’s solar cells began to enter the embryonic period, sequential R & D work started in various places, but progress is slow.
Rong-Qiang Cui said that the State Planning Commission in 1986 in rural energy, “the Seventh Five-Year Plan 1986-1990,” listed in the “solar cell” feature, there are six universities and six institutes started crystalline silicon cells, etc. research.
80 in the late 20th century, the domestic has introduced a number of solar cell production lines 6Y270 battery , including Yunnan semiconductor plant from Canada, the introduction of 1MW (MW) production line, so that China’s solar cell production capacity from the hundreds of KW (kilowatts) about child raised to 4.5MW, this capacity until 2002, production was only about 2MW.
“90 years in the late period of steady development of China’s solar cells, after the introduction, digestion, absorption and re-innovation, and solar cell production technology and processes to ensure a stable development and increased production increased steadily, basically meet the domestic market needs and have a very a small amount of export. “Rong-Qiang Cui said.
In 1998, the Chinese Government started to pay attention solar power, proposed the first set of poly-silicon battery and applications 3MW demonstration projects, this news that the present Tianwei Yingli New Energy Co., Ltd. Chairman Miao Liansheng saw a ray of hope. However, when the development prospects of solar energy industry is not yet clear, coupled by policy factors, so many people are deterred by this new energy projects. In the case of partners exit, Miao Liansheng determinedly contrarian, the fight to the approval of this project has become China’s solar industry’s first “to eat crab” people.
In 2001, Suntech established 10MWp (MW) solar cell production line success, in September 2002, Suntech first 10MW solar cell production line officially put into production, production capacity is equivalent to the previous four years, the sum of the national output of solar cells in one fell swoop would be my with the international PV industry, reduce the gap for 15 years.
December 14, 2005, Wuxi Suntech Power companies in the New York Stock Exchange, Suntech, turned out and ultra-conventional development has brought the “richest man in effect” started the Chinese solar energy industry accelerator, the domestic solar cell production and R & D has also entered the fast lane.
Tianwei Yingli’s relevant person in charge, December 19, 2003, the company’s projects have been formally adopted by the national acceptance, fully operational, our country can not fill the commercial production of polysilicon solar cell blank.
From 2003 to 2005 in Europe, especially Germany, under the market pull, Suntech and Baoding Yingli continued expansion, other enterprises have established solar cell production line, so that the rapid growth of China’s solar cell production, at present, China’s output of solar cells accounted for 30% of world production.
Wang Zhan-Guo academician pointed out: “In recent years, China’s solar cell-related technology research and development has made some breakthroughs, but it may also be compared with foreign countries, there are some gaps, mainly in the technical level, industrial and market development and so on. For example, several typical solar The best laboratory cell efficiency is lower than abroad, China’s monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon efficiency in the laboratory were 19.8%, 16.5%, while 24.8% were foreign and 19.8%. ”
Moreover, Wang Zhan-Guo academician, said, China’s solar cell manufacturing, a lot of equipment is imported from abroad, companies spent large sums of money, so we should step up R & D and manufacture of equipment in order to reduce costs.
2005, China opened the prelude to the great development of polysilicon
Polycrystalline silicon solar cell industry as a whole a “lifeline,” the shortage of polysilicon raw materials to make the high cost of solar cells have seriously constrained the solar cell industry and market development.
In addition, the polysilicon raw materials, advanced production technology has been largely controlled by the United States, Japan, Germany, the hands of several major manufacturers. Due to various reasons (manufacturer of the photovoltaic industry can maintain a stable demand concerns, the needs of technology and market monopolies, expansion lag), these enterprises do not have a declared plant in China, let alone the transfer of technology.
Luoyang Sino-silicon High-tech Co., Ltd. continents Yan, deputy chief engineer, said: “Domestic photovoltaic enterprises should be controlled by others out of the situation, we must ‘hard inner strength’, take the road of independent research and development, to make technological innovations.”
Yen Ta-chou said, China’s polysilicon began in 1964, but the low level of technology, small scale, the product of high unit consumption and production costs are high. Before 2005, China’s annual output of polycrystalline silicon is less than 0.5% of world annual production.
Thus, in 2005, the industry’s leading experts LIANG Jun-wu, Zhou Lian, Que Duanlin three academicians jointly submitted to the CPC Central Committee and State Council, such as a proposal, calling: “to break the monopoly, government-led, multi-party financing of the rapid establishment of an annual output of thousands of ton polysilicon production plant. “Yan continents, said:” Academician of the petition triggered a strong response in the industry, but also strengthened our determination to take the road of independent research and development. ”
In this context, the ministry organized the implementation of 863 research programs, “Eleventh Five-Year” support programs at the same time, the National Development and Reform Commission organized and implemented a “high-tech industry high-purity silicon material major projects” around the polysilicon production various links of the major technical problems, implementation of key research, made a series of research and industrial achievements have independent intellectual property rights technology systems for the industrial development of polysilicon to win the initiative.
In 2004, Luoyang, China Nonferrous Shejizongyuan silicon plant and co-founded the Sino-silicon High-tech self-developed energy-saving out of 12 pairs of rod-type polysilicon reduction furnace, as a basis, in 2005, Taiwan’s first 300 tons of polycrystalline silicon production project put into operation, which opened in a prelude to the great development of China’s polysilicon.
Yan continents, said: “Our country’s first industrial demonstration line built, on the one hand gave the industry confidence, on the other hand, it marks the polysilicon to form large-scale production technology system, breaking the blockade of foreign technology for many years, and monopolize the market. ”
In addition, the purification of poly-silicon technology, China has also been a breakthrough. At present, the world’s widely used “improved Siemens process” purification, purity may be high, but the energy consumption, it is not environmentally friendly. Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Gao Wenxiu team another way, invented the “Physical Law” purified, July 16, 2007, part of the sample measured by the Japanese side, the purity of up to 5N to 6N (purity polysilicon used in solar cells require far higher than the 99.9%: The “N” on behalf of the decimal point after the “9″ number shall be more than 4N),
electricity consumption and water consumption were only “improved Siemens process” of 1 / 3 and 1 / 10.
At present, the vast majority of domestic polysilicon production have adopted trichlorosilane process, this high-energy-consuming process due to silicon tetrachloride, etc. can not all be recycled difficult to deal with serious environmental pollution . In 2008, the silicon-tech assumed the national “863″ key scientific and technological project - the use of polysilicon-product of research on key technologies through independent research and development, the company has successfully completed a low pressure hydrogenation of technical research. Yan continents, said: “At present, the project has been in the 1000t / a and 2000t / a polycrystalline silicon and other projects running on silicon tetrachloride After a few cycles, almost all of recycling can be realized.”
Yingli 69 and the silicon industry is now adopting a new production of polysilicon technology silane low power consumption and production costs 24% lower than in the same industry, output increased by 30% year on year, by-products pollution-free and can re-use of all of the sale.
Wang Zhan-Guo academician, said the current account for 90% of the PV market in terms of crystalline silicon solar cell conversion efficiency and the thin silicon is the main way to reduce costs.
Yao, director of public relations, according to LDK introduction, the company’s thinnest silicon chips for the 160m or so, has reached the level of the world’s leading industrialized.
2007, China became the largest country in production of solar cells
A severe shortage of crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturing equipment for many in the cut-off state; rising price of a crystalline silicon solar cells gradually eroded the profits of manufacturers. Therefore, the search for crystalline silicon or reduction of crystalline silicon solar cells rely on a company had to face choices. Amorphous silicon thin-film solar cells leap into people’s eyes, get a rare opportunity for development.
Zhan-Guo Wang told reporters that no silicon thin-film
batteries, but in low-cost glass substrate thin film deposited on the semiconductor active layer is expected to significantly reduce material consumption and cost. He called the state should lot of emphasis on thin-film solar cell research.
Thin-film batteries, the most common are amorphous silicon solar cells. Compared with ordinary solar cells, amorphous silicon solar cells, low cost, low energy consumption, pollution-free, low-light is good, the thickness of only the former 1/200 is more suitable for integration with the building’s exterior wall constitutes a solar power system can also be used in portable electronic devices.
China’s non-silicon solar cell research has also taken a tortuous path. Nankai University in 1975 began to make amorphous silicon thin film solar cell research. 80s of last century, our country from the U.S. introduction of a one megawatt Crolla’s amorphous silicon solar cell production line, more successful industrialization. However, as of the end of 2003, China’s amorphous silicon solar cell is also the only one production line.
However, there have been factories or North Korea embarked on the field of amorphous silicon solar cells and achieved certain results. 2008 Beijing Olympics Olympic village solar heater system used by Beijing Sinocome developed Si solar technical. This solar water heater can be more than 16800 athletes bath water; Olympic Games, it meet about 1868 residents in domestic hot water needs, saving 10 million kwh a year.
Ma Xin, president of Walker Group, said: “The Freelander has a completely independent intellectual property rights of the amorphous silicon thin film solar cells for the production of raw materials mainly glass, high sensitivity, but also be able to achieve full spectrum absorption, even if the use of a weak moon can also generate electricity as usual. ”
In recent years, amorphous silicon solar cells to obtain a larger development. Data show that in 2007 the world’s thin-film solar cell production in 2006 to 181MW by the year 2007 raised to 400MW. In China, in 2007 the industry growth rate of about 120%, average annual growth rate of the next three years, up to 100%.
August 29, the State Department counselor, China Renewable Energy Society for the green stone set ring in the fourth Fortune (China) Forum said that although China from 2007 became the world’s production of solar cells than any other country, but abroad, there are many gaps. Moreover, the development of new types of solar cells, we are still in its initial stage, while great progress has been from foreign sources, therefore, the development of China’s solar cells long way to go.
Such rational thinking is now needed. At present, the world is experiencing an unprecedented energy revolution, solar energy is one of the most dazzling pearl, with big-man Road Zhenru iron CHAMC, China’s solar cell industry is slowly shaking off the bubble, strode a more solid and firm the pace of big strides forward. As the “Count of Monte Cristo” at the end says: “All human wisdom is contained in the two word: wait and hope.”
Events
In 1999, Baoding Tianwei Yingli New Energy Resources Co., former State Planning Commission approved the construction of the project of “poly-silicon solar battery and application demonstration project” project
C1295 battery, December 19, 2003 formally adopted by the national acceptance, fully operational, to fill the for commercial production in China can not be blank silicon solar cells.
In September 2002, Suntech’s first 10 MW solar cell production line officially put into production, production capacity is equivalent to the previous four years, the sum of the national output of solar cells in one fell swoop with the international PV industry in our country reduce the gap in 15 years.
January 19, 2004, China’s first 12 pairs of rod polysilicon energy-efficient large reduction furnace in silicon High-Tech trial is successful, the technical indicators have reached international advanced level. So far, the Chinese had mastered by the United States, Japan, Germany and other countries monopolize more than 20 years of polysilicon production core technology.
In 2005, Taiwan’s first 300 tons of polysilicon production project put into operation in Luoyang Sino-silicon, unveiling a prelude to the great development of China’s polysilicon.
December 14, 2005, Wuxi Suntech in the U.S. the New York Stock Exchange, becoming the first mainland China in the New York Stock Exchange listing of private high-tech enterprises.
In 2007, Suntech’s total capacity will exceed 500 MW, the output of more than 300 megawatts, with sales income exceeding 10.0 billion ranked second in the world photovoltaic industry.
March 31, 2007, the Sino-silicon High-Tech undertaken 863 research topic - 24 pairs of rod polysilicon reduction furnace sets of energy-saving devices, experts organized by Ministry of Science and acceptance.
July 16, 2007, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of the high-Wenxiu independent research and development team, the physical purification method, output of more than 99.9999% purity silicon solar cell products, electricity consumption and water consumption were only “improved Siemens process” in a / 3 and 1 / 10.
In August 2008, LDK Solar LDK officially announced to the world, the company solar wafers, the actual capacity of 1,000 megawatts, the only one to enter the world’s solar photovoltaic industry, “G-watt club” business.
March 30, 2009, Suntech Power Holdings Limited, Pluto, Pluto technology applications in their smooth production of battery production line, in which the single crystal and multi-crystalline photovoltaic cell conversion rate of about 19% and 17% respectively.
Extended reading
The future of solar cells
Chu Jun-Hao Chinese Academy of Sciences in the interview with this reporter when he said that apart from monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon solar cells, and the third generation of solar cells are some new concepts, new structure, the battery, such as dye-sensitized cells , organic thin-film batteries, nano-structured batteries, these batteries in the next 10 years will be based on its stability, efficiency and cost of successively enter the market.
Chinese scientists have also been conducting research and development of new solar cells and achieved certain results. In 2004, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Plasma Physics in the large area dye-sensitized solar cells have made some breakthroughs in the cost of their silicon solar cell cost is only 1 / 10, and the process simpler and more stable performance, and the built the world’s first true 500W for power generation dye-sensitized solar cell demonstration system.
Wang Zhan-Guo academician said, efficient, low-cost organic / inorganic composite nano-sized semiconductor flexible solar cell is a cutting-edge research and development of current international hot spot. Micron stainless steel strip as a substrate of flexible amorphous silicon thin-film solar cells with a light weight, impact resistance, flexible, easy installation and wide application areas and many other advantages.
It is reported that in May 2009, Tianjin, Tianjin to invest jointly with the U.S. solar energy company signed a contract jointly invest an annual capacity of 25 MW of flexible thin-film amorphous silicon solar cell project.
Outlook for solar cells the future, Wang Zhan-Guo academician said: “The film, high conversion efficiency, abundance of raw materials, non-toxic and low-cost is ideal for the third generation of solar photovoltaic cells, which is people’s pursuit of the highest goal.”
