Efficiency potential simulation for an industrially feasible LFC-PERC concept with sensitivity analysis on crucial cell parameters

PERC solar cells with a rear contact by laser firing (LFC) have shown to be a valid processing concept with a slender process routine and a low metal fraction on the rear side. Nevertheless, if not designed carefully, this solar cell design has a tendency towards pronounced losses at the rear contact area when it comes to comparison with other high efficiency PERC concepts. By applying latest parameterizations for the rear metal contact, we show a detailed free energy loss analysis on numerical simulations. We show that the rear side laser process inducing the high contact recombination is the crucial cell process for improving the LFC-PERC concept. Varying all crucial design parameters, we optimize the rear side design and show sensitivity and strengths of this cell concept including R&D recommendations to reach potential cell efficiencies up to 22.5 %.