The Fraunhofer ISE (Institute for Solar Energy), Germany

This is Europe’s largest institute in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency with a total of more than 1000 employees. Fraunhofer ISE holds numerous records in the field of solar cells from crystalline silicon wafers. In March 2006 the Photovoltaic - Technology Evaluation Centre (PV-TEC) was inaugurated, being the largest non-commercial R&D laboratory for PV technology world-wide. Covering the whole process chain for standard and advanced processing, it offers unique options for R&D on a pilot equipment level. Thus the gap between standard lab type pilot processing (typically in the range of 100 wafers/day and the industrial throughput rates of 2000 wafers/hour can be closed.

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Other Partners

FP7 SOLNOWAT project
Development of a competitive 0 Global Warming Potential (GWP) dry process to reduce the dramatic water consumption in the ever-expanding solar cell manufacturing industry.

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The Fraunhofer IWS (Institute for Material and Beam Technology), Germany

Nines entered into collaboration with Fraunhofer IWS in 2010 – the institute offers application-oriented research and development in the area of laser and surface technology. The CVD group focuses on development and optimization of customized etching and deposition technologies at atmospheric pressure, and development and prototyping of equipment for industrial applications, including advanced process monitoring solutions. We will continue to work with the Institute under the FP7 funded Research & Development programme for the benefit of SME’s.

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