skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Fabrication of Stable, Large-Area Thin-Film CdTe Photovoltaic Modules, Annual Subcontract Report, 10 May 1992 - 9 May 1993

Abstract

This report highlights the progress made by Solar Cells, Inc. (SCI), in its program to produce 60-cm {times} 120-cm solar modules based on CdTe films. During the past year, confirmed efficiency has increased to 10.4% (active area) on a 1 cm{sup 2} cell, 9.8% (aperture area) on a 64-cm{sup 2} 8-cell submodule, and 6.6% (total area) on a 7200-cm{sup 2} module. A module measured in-house had a power output of 53 W, for a total-area efficiency of 7.4%. Average efficiency of modules produced is steadily increasing and standard deviation is decreasing; in a limited run of 12 modules, results were 6.3% ({plus_minus} 0.2%). Field testing has begun; a nominal 1-kW array of 24 modules was set up adjacent to SCI`s facilities. Analysis indicates that present modules are limited in efficiency by shunt resistance and optical absorption losses in the glass superstrate. Loss analysis of present devices allows us to project a module efficiency of 11.8%. A third generation deposition method -- atmospheric pressure elemental vapor deposition (APEVD) has been brought on-line and has produced good quality CdTe. In addition, SCI is expanding its proactive safety, health, environmental, and disposal program dealing with issues surrounding cadmium.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
10181903
Report Number(s):
NREL/TP-413-5740
ON: DE93018204
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Aug 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS; FABRICATION; PROGRESS REPORT; CADMIUM TELLURIDES; THIN FILMS; SOLAR CELL ARRAYS; DIMENSIONS; EFFICIENCY; MATERIALS; ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES; TIN OXIDES; GLASS; photovoltaics; solar cells; cadmium telluride; fabrication; thin film; modules; large area; 140501; PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION

Citation Formats

Nolan, J. F., and Meyers, P. V. Fabrication of Stable, Large-Area Thin-Film CdTe Photovoltaic Modules, Annual Subcontract Report, 10 May 1992 - 9 May 1993. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.2172/10181903.
Nolan, J. F., & Meyers, P. V. Fabrication of Stable, Large-Area Thin-Film CdTe Photovoltaic Modules, Annual Subcontract Report, 10 May 1992 - 9 May 1993. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10181903
Nolan, J. F., and Meyers, P. V. 1993. "Fabrication of Stable, Large-Area Thin-Film CdTe Photovoltaic Modules, Annual Subcontract Report, 10 May 1992 - 9 May 1993". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10181903. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10181903.
@article{osti_10181903,
title = {Fabrication of Stable, Large-Area Thin-Film CdTe Photovoltaic Modules, Annual Subcontract Report, 10 May 1992 - 9 May 1993},
author = {Nolan, J. F. and Meyers, P. V.},
abstractNote = {This report highlights the progress made by Solar Cells, Inc. (SCI), in its program to produce 60-cm {times} 120-cm solar modules based on CdTe films. During the past year, confirmed efficiency has increased to 10.4% (active area) on a 1 cm{sup 2} cell, 9.8% (aperture area) on a 64-cm{sup 2} 8-cell submodule, and 6.6% (total area) on a 7200-cm{sup 2} module. A module measured in-house had a power output of 53 W, for a total-area efficiency of 7.4%. Average efficiency of modules produced is steadily increasing and standard deviation is decreasing; in a limited run of 12 modules, results were 6.3% ({plus_minus} 0.2%). Field testing has begun; a nominal 1-kW array of 24 modules was set up adjacent to SCI`s facilities. Analysis indicates that present modules are limited in efficiency by shunt resistance and optical absorption losses in the glass superstrate. Loss analysis of present devices allows us to project a module efficiency of 11.8%. A third generation deposition method -- atmospheric pressure elemental vapor deposition (APEVD) has been brought on-line and has produced good quality CdTe. In addition, SCI is expanding its proactive safety, health, environmental, and disposal program dealing with issues surrounding cadmium.},
doi = {10.2172/10181903},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10181903}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}