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

Technical Report · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10181903· OSTI ID:10181903

Nolan, J. F.; Meyers, P. V.

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.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 10181903
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-413-5740; ON: DE93018204
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Aug 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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
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PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION