Speaker
Description
Germanium is the semiconductor of choice for the production of high-efficient multi-junction space solar cells. Solar cells technology is, by nature, a large surface area semiconductor application and therefore Germanium is the most important semiconductor material, in weight, of all Space missions. Ge has been identified as one of the important environmental hotspots of space missions. This presentation will outline the ambitions of Umicore Electro Optic Materials to reduce the environmental impact of germanium.
Primary Germanium is extracted from coal ash or as a by-product of base metals refining processes. Depending on the source material, the carbon footprint of this Germanium extraction process varies widely. The presentation will cover the entire scope of our approach from LCA study to sustainable supply of Ge to recycling of Ge in internal and external processes and increasing the efficiency of Ge use in the substrate and solar cell manufacturing processes. We will cover a description of the current status and a visionary outlook for the years to come.
