2.3% Efficiency Gains for Silicon Solar Modules Using a Durable Broadband Anti-reflection Coating

The front surface reflection losses from solar cover glass account for over 4% of incident light, limiting module efficiency. The application of a multilayer broadband antireflection coating reduces reflection losses over the wavelength range utilised by silicon solar cells. A 6-layer anti-reflection coating comprising SiO
₂
and ZrO
₂
has been deposited on glass using high rate pulsed-DC magnetron sputtering. The reflection losses are reduced by 2.4% absolute compared to uncoated glass. The increased light reaching the solar cell leads to improvements in I
_sc
and spectral response, increasing the efficiency from 17.1 to 17.5%, a relative increase of 2.34%. The coating is environmentally robust. The sputtering process is already used for other high throughput applications by major glass manufacturers.