Energy research Centre of the Netherlands(Project Coordinator)
ECN is a not-for-profit research institute which develops high-quality knowledge and technology for the transition to a sustainable energy supply, and transfers this knowledge and technology to the market. The Solar Energy unit participates in CU-PV: with its staff of over 70 scientists and engineers, this unit has been successfully developing new technologies for PV, and introducing them into mass production in collaboration with industrial partners.

imec
Imec performs world-leading research in nanoelectronics and photovoltaics. Imec leverages scientific knowledge with the innovative power of our global partnerships in ICT, healthcare and energy. The photovoltaic department within imec performs innovative research on materials, concepts and pathways for photovoltaic devices as cost effective and sustainable renewable energy source. Research and development is done in dedicated solar cell pre-pilot lines for both short-term activities such as process improvements that can be immediately applied in the industry, and longer-term activities such as technology development for ultra-thin wafers and thin film organic solar cells. Hence, imec is a worldwide-acknowledged leader for the development of industrially relevant pilot processes for crystalline silicon as well as organic solar cells.

Meco
With over 30 years of experience in delivering turn key plating systems, Meco has set a standard in the field of plating systems for the semiconductor, automotive and connector industry. Meco has taken these robust and proven concepts to provide plating systems for advanced metallization of silicon solar cells, thin film solar cells and flex foil.

Xjet 3D
Until the midterm of the Cu-PV project (May 2014), Xjet’s activities focused on developing inkjet printers and inks for the metallization of solar cells and for printed electronics applications such as touch screens, OLED lighting, smart glass and RFID's. Xjet fab-grade inkjet printer is a key enabler to cost reduction and efficiency improvements in solar cells metallization. Xjet's contactless digital technology allows uniform deposition, narrow and accurate metal lines and up to 65% Ag reduction.

Within its changed company strategy, Xjet now focuses on 3D printing, instead of solar energy activities.

Technical Plating SL
Technical Plating is a company founded in 2009 in Valencia. It is specialized in metal plating, development of wet processing and cleaning equipment. Technical Plating has two main wet processing lines: electrodeposition line and electroless line. The metals used in the first line are: gold, chromium, nickel, copper and brass. The second line uses electroless nickel (Ni-P).

The objective of Technical Plating in Cu-PV was to develop and test recycling processes that could be applied to today’s waste modules as well as the project’s design-for-recycling modules, including evaluation of scaling up and economic aspects. During the project, a mixed mechanical technology combined with thermal treatment turned out to be most promising and was developed and tested at larger scale. Technical Plating unfortunately ceased its activities at the end of the project.

Eurotron
Eurotron offers a complete solution for the photovoltaic module manufacturing process based upon backside contact cells. Eurotron is the only supplier of module assembly lines targeted for back contact solar cells, based on conductive adhesives.
Eurotron’s equipment is engineered to maximize PV manufacturing efficiency and offers a wide range of possibilities. Eurotron’s flexible equipment enables the solar industry to produce solar modules at the lowest costs per Watt and based on the most recent backside contact technology.

PV CYCLE
Founded in 2007 as a not-for-profit association, PV CYCLE ensures that its members’ discarded end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) modules are collected and recycled in a sustainable and cost-effective way. In order to implement the PV industry’s commitment to sustainable end-of-life management, PV CYCLE started as a voluntary industry initiative and ultimately aims to become a WEEE-compliant scheme. Free of charge for module owners, our service is open to anyone wishing to dispose of PV modules following dismantling, demolition or renovation projects.

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_{This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 308350.}