Large-area Silicon-Film{sup T}{sup M} manufacturing
- AstroPower, Inc., Solar Park, Newark, Delaware 19716-2000 (United States)
In three years, AstroPower{close_quote}s Silicon-Film{sup T}{sup M} program has grown from a laboratory batch process making 100 cm{sup 2} solar cells to a continuous manufacturing process used to fabricate a 20 kW array of modules made with 240 cm{sup 2} cells. Under the PVMaT-2A program AstroPower has established a Silicon-Film{sup T}{sup M} sheet production capacity of 4.5 MW/year. Significant advances were made in sheet production, device fabrication, and device and module efficiency. In developing a low-cost process, the focus has been on limiting the consumption of high quality silicon, reducing sawing requirements, and utilizing a high yield continuous manufacturing technology. Key device results include the verification of a 2.9 watt solar cell using the 240 cm{sup 2} substrate (12.2{percent}) and 7.9 watt solar cell on a 676 cm{sup 2} substrate (11.7{percent}). AstroPower{close_quote}s manufacturing plans include a sheet production capability of 20 MW/year over the next three years. Initial production runs were used to successfully fabricate and install a nominal 20 kW array for the PVUSA program. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 450106
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9605265-; ISSN 0094-243X; TRN: 9703M0033
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 353, Issue 1; Conference: 13. NREL photovoltaics program review meeting, Lakewood, CO (United States), 16-19 May 1996; Other Information: PBD: Jan 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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