Editorial: Photovoltaic Materials and Devices 2014

Journal Article · Mon Dec 22 00:00:00 EST 2014 · International Journal of Photoenergy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/534312· OSTI ID:1220702

Sopori, Bhushan ^[1]; Rupnowski, Peter ^[1]; Shet, Sudhakar ^[2]; Basnyat, Prakash ^[1]

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1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). National Center for Photovoltaics
2. New Jersey Inst. of Technology, Newark, NJ (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering

An ever increasing demand on energy has fostered many new generation technologies, which include photovoltaics. In recent years, photovoltaic industry has grown very rapidly. The installed capacity of PV for 2013 was about 37 GW and 2014 sales are expected to be around 45 GW. However, there has been excess production for last several years, which is responsible in part for the low prices (about 60 c/W). To lower the PV energy costs further, a major strategy appears to be going to high efficiency solar cells. This approach is favored (over lower cost/lower efficiency) because cell efficiency has a very large influence on the acceptable manufacturing cost of a PV module. Hence, the PV industry is moving toward developing processes and equipment to manufacture solar cells that can yield efficiencies >20%. Therefore, further research is needed within existing technologies to accomplish these objectives. Likewise, research will continue to seek new materials and devices.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1220702
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA--5900-63951
• Journal Information: International Journal of Photoenergy, Journal Name: International Journal of Photoenergy Journal Issue: 2014 Vol. 2014; ISSN 1110-662X
• Publisher: Hindawi
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
devices
materials
photovoltaics