Euro CZ factory

Silicon-based solar cells were developed in the West, but the industrial ecosystem is now in China. PV is quickly becoming the world’s most important source of green electricity, and the geopolitical situation has led to large subsidies for PV industries in USA, India, and Europe. CZ ingot and wafer production has been identified as the weakest element of EU’s ambitious PV industry plan; in particular, CZ ingot manufacturing for PV outside of China is very small and is presently either halted or not yet in operation. The vision of EuroCZ-factory is to bring the CZ ingot and wafer industry with its ecosystem of suppliers back to Europe. We have built a strong consortium of large industrial companies, start-ups and SMEs, research institutes, universities, and trade associations from all over Europe that combines a broad spectrum of CZ ingot and wafer competence with leading-edge manufacturing and digitalization experience. PVA TePla (DE) will develop and optimize their new giant CZ crystal puller with new automation technology installed at Fraunhofer CSP (DE), equipped with brand new hot-zone technology from start-up CZ-Tech AS (NO). Core Innovation (EL) and SINTEF (NO) will develop a digitalization framework to leverage CZ with the latest advances in AI and industry 4.0 features, equipped with machine learning tools from THM (DE). SINTEF will develop waste heat recovery and FerroGlobe (ES) recycle waste materials. BASF and Rena (DE) will develop new synthetic chemicals for wafering. Ingot and wafer producer Kalyon (TR) will share production data and perform large-scale production demos with the new chemicals and with advanced ceramics tools by SME TechnoSupport (BU). UKN (DE), Gunam (TR), and CEA (FR) will qualify wafers by cell processing and advanced characterization. Ingot and wafer startup Sunwafe (ES) will contribute with cost modelling and customer requirements. Solar Power Europe (BE) will assist with dissemination and technology implementation opportunities