Printed interconnects for photovoltaic modules
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)
Film-based photovoltaic modules employ monolithic interconnects to minimize resistance loss and enhance module voltage via series connection. Conventional interconnect construction occurs sequentially, with a scribing step following deposition of the bottom electrode, a second scribe after deposition of absorber and intermediate layers, and a third following deposition of the top electrode. This method produces interconnect widths of about 300 µm, and the area comprised by interconnects within a module (generally about 3%) does not contribute to power generation. The present work reports on an increasingly popular strategy capable of reducing the interconnect width to less than 100 µm: printing interconnects. Cost modeling projects a savings of about $0.02/watt for CdTe module production through the use of printed interconnects, with savings coming from both reduced capital expense and increased module power output. Printed interconnect demonstrations with copper-indium-gallium-diselenide and cadmium-telluride solar cells show successful voltage addition and miniaturization down to 250 µm. As a result, material selection guidelines and considerations for commercialization are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); Bay Area Photovoltaic Consortium
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308; EE0004946
- OSTI ID:
- 1331057
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1396835
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5K00-65594
- Journal Information:
- Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 159, Issue C; ISSN 0927-0248
- Publisher:
- ElsevierCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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