ECN unit Solar Energy wins innovation prize

The unit Solar Energy of the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) has won the European Innovation Prize. This announcement was made in Brussels last Wednesday evening, 9 December.

The innovation prize has been awarded by EARTO, the trade association of Europe’s specialised Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs).

The price has been awarded to ECN because it has developed new solar cell and module technology. Earlier this year, in April, ECN proved that with this new technology a world record conversion efficiency of 16.4% could be achieved. In cooperation with Eurotron, ECN developed a special assembly line with which this new type of solar panel can be assembled. With this assembly line solar panels can be produced more quickly and at a lower cost. The jury of EARTO commends the Back-Contact Solar Module Assembly Line for being “an excellent example of cooperation between ECN as a research institute and trade and industry, enabling the development of innovative technologies that have high social and economic relevance”. “With the Back-Contact Solar Module Assembly Line technology the deployment of solar panels can be highly increased, thus contributing significantly to a sustainable energy system and the climate objectives”, the jury said.

ECN has won the second prize, which it has to share with the French organization CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission). TNO (Dutch organisation) receives the first prize for developing the Legionella chip. CEA receives the prize for the Motionpod.

350 knowledge institutes have joined EARTO, among which ECN. It is the first time that this prize has been awarded.

Additional information about the Back-Contact Solar Module Assembly Line can be found here.
Here you will also find a film that has been made of the unit Solar Energy.  

For information please contact ECN press officer Florentine de Maar.
Telephone: +31 224-564050 or +31 6-12798123, email: demaar@remove-this-part-ecn.nl

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