Photara develops metallization processes that replace silver with copper and aluminum in photovoltaic cells, cutting material costs by up to 20%. Their material science and robotics expertise enables high‑conductivity, low‑cost metal contacts compatible with existing solar manufacturing lines. This approach lowers the overall cost of solar modules and supports large‑scale deployment of renewable energy.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Silver accounts for the second largest cost component of a solar module and is the only critical material in the photovoltaic supply chain, creating both cost and supply constraints that hinder terawatt‑scale deployment of solar power.
Solution
Photara offers a metallization technology that replaces silver with abundant base metals such as copper and aluminum. The process leverages precision robotic deposition and advanced material‑science formulations to achieve electrical conductivity comparable to traditional silver pastes while dramatically lowering material expense. By integrating with existing screen‑printing and roll‑to‑roll manufacturing lines, the solution enables solar cell producers to cut raw‑material costs without redesigning their production flow. The resulting modules retain performance metrics and reliability, supporting large‑scale, cost‑effective solar deployment.
Target Audience
The primary customers are photovoltaic module manufacturers and solar cell fabricators seeking to lower material costs while preserving device performance.
Features
- Proprietary copper‑ and aluminum‑based metallization inks formulated for high conductivity and low resistivity
- Automated robotic coating system that delivers uniform thin‑film layers compatible with standard screen‑printing equipment
- Process parameters optimized for rapid cure cycles, reducing production time and energy consumption
- Material cost reduction of up to 100× compared with silver pastes, based on raw‑material pricing differentials
- Scalable chemistry that maintains long‑term adhesion and corrosion resistance under field conditions
- Seamless integration into existing photovoltaic manufacturing lines with minimal equipment retrofits
- Comprehensive quality‑control analytics package for conductivity, sheet resistance, and uniformity verification