Photovoltaic wafer cutting: process innovation is progressing slowly

Abstract Since 2008, China's photovoltaic industry has held a leading position in terms of production capacity and cost efficiency on the global stage. However, despite this success, most of the core processes—especially those related to mainstream solar cell technology—have been imported from overseas, with limited independent innovation. As an emerging industry, the photovoltaic sector is characterized by rapid technological advancements. If China fails to take the lead in core technologies, its industry will remain dependent on foreign innovations, relying solely on low-cost labor and resource consumption to generate profits. This approach lacks long-term sustainability and core competitive advantages. The process of wafer cutting remains one of the slowest areas for progress and innovation. Despite significant efforts, it remains challenging to replace the current multi-wire cutting technology with any revolutionary alternative. Moreover, no groundbreaking technology is currently visible on the horizon that could significantly disrupt this process. Nevertheless, within the existing framework of prior art, there are numerous small but impactful innovations that can deliver substantial benefits to slicing companies. For instance, using finer wire diameters, smaller corundum particle sizes, and optimizing slurry ratios can reduce the thickness of wafers, increase the number of wafers per unit weight, and minimize surface damage, thereby improving yield. The adoption of diamond wire technology can boost productivity, while new guide wheels help reduce thickness non-uniformity. Although these improvements may seem minor, they represent valuable incremental innovations. In fact, implementing such small-scale technologies can increase the number of finished wafers produced per kilogram by as much as 3 to 5 times. This translates into significant economic gains for slicing enterprises, proving that even subtle technological refinements can have a major impact on profitability and competitiveness. By focusing on these incremental improvements, China's photovoltaic industry can gradually build a stronger foundation for sustainable growth.