Polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaics

Book · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:142298

Zweibel, K ^[1]; Barnett, A M ^[2]

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1. National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
2. AstroPower, Inc., Newark, DE (United States)

Flat-plate polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic devices can be made from copper indium diselenide (CIS), cadmium telluride (CdTe), or thin-film crystalline silicon (thin x-Si). All are now either in a pre-commercial stage or about to reach the open market. CIS and CdTe are regarded as model thin-films that should reach low-cost goals of about US $1 per watt by the end of the decade. Thin-film crystalline silicon is less advanced but appears just as promising for the longer term (past the year 2000). Photovoltaic (PV) technology is expected to become economically viable during the 1990s, playing an emerging role in such multibillion dollar markets as peak power production, PV/diesel/battery hybrid systems and in providing power to remote villages in the less developed countries. By the first decade of the 21st century, PV thin-films should be fully developed as an energy alternative to conventional fuels and will become self-sustaining, generating electricity at a cost below $0.06 per kilowatt-hour. 75 refs., 16 figs., 8 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 142298
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
DESIGN
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
INDIUM SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
MANUFACTURING
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SAFETY
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
STABILITY
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT