Title

Scale-Up Issues Of Cigs Thin Film Pv Modules

Keywords

CIGS PV modules; Scale-up issues

Abstract

Photovoltaics cost has been declining following a 70% learning curve. Now the challenge is to bring down the cost of solar electricity to make it competitive with conventional sources within the next decade. In the long run, the module efficiencies tend to reach 80% of the champion cell efficiencies. Using a semiempirical methodology, it has been shown earlier that while the triple junction a-Si:H thin film technology is competitive, CIGS and CdTe thin film module technologies are highly competitive and presently offer the best approach for significantly exceeding the cost/performance levels of standard and non-standard crystalline Si PV technologies. Since 2006, the production of thin film solar cell in the U.S. has surpassed that of c-Si. At present, the production of CIGS PV modules lags considerably behind that of CdTe PV modules. This is mainly because of its complexity. Scale-up issues related to various CIGS preparation technologies such as co-evaporation, metallic precursor deposition by magnetron sputtering and non-vacuum techniques such as ink-jet printing, electroplating or doctor-blade technology followed by their selenization/sulfurization are discussed so as to assist the CIGS technology to attain its full potential. Besides the welcome announcements of large volume production, it is essential to achieve the production cost below 1/Wp in the near term and attain production speeds comparable to CdTe production speeds. Comparable production speeds are expected to be achieved within the next decade. This will enable reduction of CIGS module production costs to ∼65¢/Wp that would be comparable to the CdTe module projected production cost. Additionally CIGS will have a higher efficiency premium. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Publication Date

1-1-2011

Publication Title

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

Volume

95

Number of Pages

277-280

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2010.02.019

Socpus ID

78149362314 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/78149362314

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS