Estonian crystalline silicon photovoltaic module panels

Crystalline silicon photovoltaics is the most widely used photovoltaic technology. Crystalline silicon photovoltaics are modules built using crystalline silicon solar cells (c-Si). These have high efficiency, making crystalline silicon photovoltaics an interesting technology where space is at a premium.

LONGi High-efficiency solar Module, widely adopting PERC solar cells technology, Half-cut Module Technology and Bifacial PV technology,Mono Silicon Crystalline Technology has become a leading manufacturer and brand in the export and installation of monocrystalline silicon solar photovoltaic module.

Crystalline silicon modules have traditionally dominated the PV panels production market (over 80% of market share) because it was the first technology to be installed at the beginning of the 1990s and, hence, it is now the most present in EoL volumes to be treated.

Glass 74.16 % 80.10 % Aluminium frames 10.30 % 9.80 % Encapsulation layer i.e. ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) 6.55 % Not specified Backing film (Tedlar) 3.60 % 4.30 % Solar cells (Silicon metal based) 3.48 % 4.70 % 19 2.2.4 Critical raw material used for the production of crystalline-silicon photovoltaic technology

The production technology refers to the average production plant of multicrystalline PV panels in 2005 in western Europe. The process includes raw material extraction, the manufacturing process i.e. production of the cell matrix, cutting of foils and washing of glass, production of laminate, isolation and the aluminium frame of the panel.

In crystalline-silicon based PV technology, silver is utilised for the metallisation of the modules. Silver belongs to the group of precious metals, together with gold, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum. The silver used in PV is estimated to be 10 grams of silver/m2of PV panel.