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Title: High-Efficiency CdTe and CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells: Highlights and Challenges; Preprint

Abstract

Thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules of CdTe and Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) have the potential to reach cost-effective PV-generated electricity. These technologies have transitioned from the laboratory to the market place. Pilot production and first-time manufacturing are ramping up to higher capacity and enjoying a flood of venture-capital funding. CIGS solar cells and modules have achieved 19.5% and 13% efficiencies, respectively. Likewise, CdTe cells and modules have reached 16.5% and 10.2% efficiencies, respectively. Even higher efficiencies from the laboratory and from the manufacturing line are only a matter of time. Manufacturing-line yield continues to improve and is surpassing 85%. Long-term stability has been demonstrated for both technologies; however, some failures in the field have also been observed, emphasizing the critical need for understanding degradation mechanisms and packaging options. The long-term potential of the two technologies require R&D emphasis on science and engineering-based challenges to find solutions to achieve targeted cost-effective module performance, and in-field durability. Some of the challenges are common to both, e.g., in-situ process control and diagnostics, thinner absorber, understanding degradation mechanisms, protection from water vapor, and innovation in high-speed processing and module design. Other topics are specific to the technology, such as lower-cost and fast-deposition processes for CIGS, and improvedmore » back contact and voltage for CdTe devices.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
891540
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-520-39894
TRN: US200622%%82
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-99-GO10337
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Presented at the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-4), 7-12 May 2006, Waikoloa, Hawaii
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; CAPACITY; DESIGN; ELECTRICITY; ENERGY CONVERSION; FLOODS; MANUFACTURING; MARKET; PACKAGING; PERFORMANCE; PROCESS CONTROL; PROCESSING; PRODUCTION; SOLAR CELLS; STABILITY; WATER VAPOR; PV; HIGH EFFICIENCY; THIN FILM; MODULE; MANUFACTURER; MONOLITHIC INTEGRATION; BACK CONTACT; BASE ELECTRODE; Solar Energy - Photovoltaics

Citation Formats

Noufi, R, and Zweibel, K. High-Efficiency CdTe and CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells: Highlights and Challenges; Preprint. United States: N. p., 2006. Web. doi:10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279455.
Noufi, R, & Zweibel, K. High-Efficiency CdTe and CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells: Highlights and Challenges; Preprint. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279455
Noufi, R, and Zweibel, K. 2006. "High-Efficiency CdTe and CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells: Highlights and Challenges; Preprint". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279455. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/891540.
@article{osti_891540,
title = {High-Efficiency CdTe and CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells: Highlights and Challenges; Preprint},
author = {Noufi, R and Zweibel, K},
abstractNote = {Thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules of CdTe and Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) have the potential to reach cost-effective PV-generated electricity. These technologies have transitioned from the laboratory to the market place. Pilot production and first-time manufacturing are ramping up to higher capacity and enjoying a flood of venture-capital funding. CIGS solar cells and modules have achieved 19.5% and 13% efficiencies, respectively. Likewise, CdTe cells and modules have reached 16.5% and 10.2% efficiencies, respectively. Even higher efficiencies from the laboratory and from the manufacturing line are only a matter of time. Manufacturing-line yield continues to improve and is surpassing 85%. Long-term stability has been demonstrated for both technologies; however, some failures in the field have also been observed, emphasizing the critical need for understanding degradation mechanisms and packaging options. The long-term potential of the two technologies require R&D emphasis on science and engineering-based challenges to find solutions to achieve targeted cost-effective module performance, and in-field durability. Some of the challenges are common to both, e.g., in-situ process control and diagnostics, thinner absorber, understanding degradation mechanisms, protection from water vapor, and innovation in high-speed processing and module design. Other topics are specific to the technology, such as lower-cost and fast-deposition processes for CIGS, and improved back contact and voltage for CdTe devices.},
doi = {10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279455},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/891540}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2006},
month = {Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2006}
}

Conference:
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