Recording of Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | The smarter E Europe 2024 | Exhibition Program | Language: English | Duration: 17:06 .
Raffaella Giardino from Carbon Highlights is presenting on pioneering an integrated industrial approach in European manufacturing, specifically in the photovoltaic sector. She highlights that while most of the value chain for polysilicon, wafers, cells, and modules resides mainly in Asia, Europe remains a significant market with promising potential. Europe has historically lagged behind regions like the United States and India due to less protective measures but is now showing positive signs through initiatives such as the European Green Deal aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 and Fit for 55 targeting a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. The Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) designates solar energy as strategic and aims to have 40% of used modules manufactured within Europe by 2030. France exemplifies this shift with supportive legislation such as the Renewable Energy Acceleration Act and Green Industry Bill. Additionally, Raffaella mentions Carbon’s commitment to full-value chain production within Europe underpinned by decarbonization, sovereignty of Europe, reindustrialization principles—focusing on scale economies and vertical integration for competitiveness.
Automated summarization by AI Conver
The technology for wafer, cell, and module production is continuously advancing. Currently, silicon-based solar modules hold approximately 97 percent of the global market share. While the passivated emitter and rear cell concept (PERC) remains prevalent, there is a notable shift towards tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), expected to lead in terms of market share by the end of 2024, alongside silicon heterojunction (SHJ), and interdigitated back contact (IBC) cells. The transition to these technologies is fast, for which innovative cell manufacturing approaches are considered.European machine manufacturers are at the forefront of providing solutions to the global market. Their cutting-edge equipment is designed to facilitate the high-quality and efficient production of solar cells. In this session, machine and equipment suppliers, together with European cell manufacturers, will discuss the current state-of-the-art production technology and future trends in the post-TW market.