Advanced Silicon Wafer-Based Solar Cells: Enhancing Efficiency, Yield, and Cost-Effectiveness
Explore how industry-level innovations in solar cell design and manufacturing—PERC, TOPCon, and HJT—can be optimized for performance, cost, and complexity in a real-world engineering context.
Jas Ong
Open Avenues Foundation
Mondays, 7:00 P.M. ET / 4:00 P.M. PT
8 weeks, 2-3 hours per weekDescription
Solar energy is a fast-growing sector that depends on ongoing improvements in solar cell efficiency and manufacturing performance. In this Build Project, you’ll step into the role of a process engineer exploring three leading solar cell technologies: PERC, TOPCon, and HJT. You’ll learn industry practices, process control and characterization method, and get exposure to improvements in process flow. You’ll be introduced to techniques used in modern solar manufacturing like lifetime testing (WCT-120), optical profiling, and others characterization tool. Guided by a professional in the field and with a real case study, you will be more familiar with troubleshooting process bottlenecks and improving solar cell performance—just like engineers do in leading solar manufacturing environments.
Application timeline
What you will learn
- By the end of the project, you will be able to: Explain how solar cells generate energy and compare three major cell technologies (PERC, TOPCon, HJT).
- Understand the process differences for different solar cell technologies (PERC, TOPCon, HJT).
- Process control methods used in the solar cell manufacturing industry to improve process stability.
- Understand key process tools like the ellipsometer, reflectometer, WCT-120, and ECV profiling.
- Apply engineering reasoning to propose ways to enhance solar cell yield and cost-effectiveness.
Project workshops
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of semiconductor concepts or materials (e.g., silicon, semiconductors).
- Basic understanding of and interest in the solar cell manufacturing process.
- Some manufacturing or industrial experience, such as quality checking, machine operation, SPC sampling, or preventive maintenance.
- Basic exposure to process control concepts.
Apply Now!
Ready to start this exciting project? Submit your application today and begin your journey with Build!
About the Fellow
Jas Ong
Open Avenues Foundation
Visit Jas's LinkedInJas Ong (Ong Cheng Shian) is a Materials Engineering Fellow at Open Avenues Foundation, where he leads educational projects focused on solar cell manufacturing, process optimization, and advanced materials engineering. In this role, he collaborates with university students to bridge the gap between academia and industry by providing hands-on experience in cutting-edge solar technology. He is also a Process & Technology Deputy Director at ES Foundry Corp., South Carolina, where he is responsible for process optimization, efficiency improvements, and the development of advanced manufacturing techniques in the solar energy sector. His work involves managing engineering teams, implementing cost-reduction strategies, and overseeing the development of next-generation solar cells. With over 13 years of experience in solar cell manufacturing and materials engineering, he has been involved in multiple new fab startups and has played a crucial role in advancing PERC, HJT, and TOPCon solar cell technologies. His expertise spans efficiency improvements, yield optimization, and cost-reduction initiatives, making him a leader in the field. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Materials Engineering from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). A fun fact about him is that he has recently developed a passion for fishing, enjoying the tranquility and challenge it brings outside of his technical work.