Lab to Large Scale Transition for Non-Vacuum Thin Film CIGS Solar Cells: Phase II--Annual Technical Report, August 2003-July 2004

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/15011721· OSTI ID:15011721

Kapur, V K; Bansal, A; Asenio, O I; Shigeoka, M K; Le, P; Gergen, B; Rasmussen, M; Zuniga, R

The purpose of this subcontract, as part of the R&D Partners category is to: (i) identify the challenges that International Solar Electric Technology, Inc. (ISET) may face in the process of making a ''Lab to Large Scale'' transition for its ink-based non-vacuum process in production of thin-film CIGS solar cells and modules, and (ii) develop workable solutions for these challenges such that they can readily be implemented in a large-scale processing line for CIGS modules. The primary objective of this research is to streamline ISET's ink-based non-vacuum process for fabricating efficient CIGS modules to lower the cost of module production << $1.0/watt. To achieve this objective, ISET has focused R&D efforts on investigating topics that directly impact the ultimate cost of processing CIGS modules. These topics of concern include (i) module output, and therefore, the solar cell and the module efficiency, (ii) overall process yield which requires developing a process that offers a very high degree of repeatability for every manufacturing step, and (iii) a process approach that maximizes the utilization of the materials used. In accordance with the above, this report will cover activity during Phase II in the investigation of methods for low-cost manufacturing and process development. Specific tasks cover four broad areas: (1) solar cell efficiency, (2) process control, (3) module integration, and (4) enhanced material utilization by reduction of waste stream.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99-GO10337
• OSTI ID: 15011721
• Report Number(s): NREL/SR-520-37284; ISBN XCQ-230630-30; TRN: US200507%%684
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: 1 Jan 2005; Related Information: Work performed by International Solar Electric Technology, Inc. (ISET), Chatsworth, California
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
42 ENGINEERING
EFFICIENCY
MANUFACTURING
PROCESS CONTROL
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
SOLAR CELLS
THIN FILMS
WASTES
PV
MODULE
MANUFACTURER
THIN FILM
INK-BASED NON-VACUUM PROCESS
LARGE-SCALE TRANSITION
PHOTOACTIVE JUNCTION
OPEN-CIRCUIT VOLTAGE
NANOPARTICLE PRECURSORS
SCREEN-PRINTED CONTACTS
SOLAR ENERGY - PHOTOVOLTAICS