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Title: Approaches to Encapsulation of Flexible CIGS Cells

Abstract

Thin-film solar cells based on CIGS are being considered for large scale power plants as well as building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications. Past studies indicate that CIGS cells degrade rapidly when exposed to moisture. As a result, an effective approach to encapsulation is required for CIGS cells to satisfy the international standard IEC 61646. CIGS modules fabricated for use in large power plants can be encapsulated with glass sheets on the top and bottom surfaces and can be effectively sealed around the edges. In the case of BIPV applications, however, it is desirable to utilize CIGS cells grown on flexible substrates, both for purposes of achieving reduced weight and for cases involving non-flat surfaces. For these cases, approaches to encapsulation must be compatible with the flexible substrate requirement. Even in the case of large power plants, the glass-to-glass approach to encapsulation may eventually be considered too costly. We are investigating encapsulation of flexible CIGS cells by lamination. Sheets of PET or PEN coated with multilayer barrier coatings are used to laminate the flexible cells. Results are discussed for laminated cells from two CIGS manufacturers. In both cases, the cell efficiency decreases less than 10% after 1000 hours of exposure tomore » an environment of 85C/85%RH. This paper discusses these two approaches, reviews results achieved with cells and mini-modules fabricated by the former Shell Solar, Industries (SSI) stressed at 60C/90%RH (60/90), and recent studies of encapsulated IEC cells subjected to an environment of 85ºC/85%RH (85/85).« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
963230
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-61343
830403000; TRN: US200917%%258
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Proceedings of the SPIE: Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems , 7018:Paper No. 70480O
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; COATINGS; EFFICIENCY; ENCAPSULATION; GLASS; MANUFACTURERS; MOISTURE; PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; POWER PLANTS; RELIABILITY; SOLAR CELLS; SUBSTRATES; Encapsulation; CIGS; Solar Cell; Thin-Film; BIPV; Barrier Coating; Flexible

Citation Formats

Olsen, Larry C, Gross, Mark E, Graff, Gordon L, Kundu, Sambhu N, Chu, Xi, and Lin, Steve. Approaches to Encapsulation of Flexible CIGS Cells. United States: N. p., 2008. Web. doi:10.1117/12.796104.
Olsen, Larry C, Gross, Mark E, Graff, Gordon L, Kundu, Sambhu N, Chu, Xi, & Lin, Steve. Approaches to Encapsulation of Flexible CIGS Cells. United States. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.796104
Olsen, Larry C, Gross, Mark E, Graff, Gordon L, Kundu, Sambhu N, Chu, Xi, and Lin, Steve. 2008. "Approaches to Encapsulation of Flexible CIGS Cells". United States. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.796104.
@article{osti_963230,
title = {Approaches to Encapsulation of Flexible CIGS Cells},
author = {Olsen, Larry C and Gross, Mark E and Graff, Gordon L and Kundu, Sambhu N and Chu, Xi and Lin, Steve},
abstractNote = {Thin-film solar cells based on CIGS are being considered for large scale power plants as well as building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications. Past studies indicate that CIGS cells degrade rapidly when exposed to moisture. As a result, an effective approach to encapsulation is required for CIGS cells to satisfy the international standard IEC 61646. CIGS modules fabricated for use in large power plants can be encapsulated with glass sheets on the top and bottom surfaces and can be effectively sealed around the edges. In the case of BIPV applications, however, it is desirable to utilize CIGS cells grown on flexible substrates, both for purposes of achieving reduced weight and for cases involving non-flat surfaces. For these cases, approaches to encapsulation must be compatible with the flexible substrate requirement. Even in the case of large power plants, the glass-to-glass approach to encapsulation may eventually be considered too costly. We are investigating encapsulation of flexible CIGS cells by lamination. Sheets of PET or PEN coated with multilayer barrier coatings are used to laminate the flexible cells. Results are discussed for laminated cells from two CIGS manufacturers. In both cases, the cell efficiency decreases less than 10% after 1000 hours of exposure to an environment of 85C/85%RH. This paper discusses these two approaches, reviews results achieved with cells and mini-modules fabricated by the former Shell Solar, Industries (SSI) stressed at 60C/90%RH (60/90), and recent studies of encapsulated IEC cells subjected to an environment of 85ºC/85%RH (85/85).},
doi = {10.1117/12.796104},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/963230}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 EDT 2008},
month = {Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 EDT 2008}
}

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