Commercialization of multijunction a-Si modules

Carlson, David; Arya, R.R.; Chen, L.-F.; Oswald, R.; Newton, J.; Rajan, K.; Romero, R.; Willing, F.; Yang, Lee‐Wei

doi:10.1063/1.52903

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…However, a-Si:H has always been associated with low efficiencies, and with further efficiency losses during operation, due to the Staebler-Wronski-Effect (SWE). Still, the low deposition temperature of around 200°C (as usable for amorphous silicon production) and the application possibility of the monolithic series connection technique for module manufacturing (Carlson et al, 1997;Frammelsberger et al, 1997) were generally considered to be significant advantages for amorphous silicon technology, as they are indeed key features that are needed in order to obtain low manufacturing costs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amorphous solar cells, the micromorph concept and the role of VHF-GD deposition technique

Meier¹,

Kroll²,

Vallat-Sauvain³

et al. 2004

Solar Energy

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During the last two decades, the Institute of Microtechnology (IMT) has contributed in two important fields to future thin-film silicon solar cell processing and design:(1) In 1987, IMT introduced the so-called ''very high frequency glow discharge (VHF-GD)'' technique, a method that leads to a considerable enhancement in the deposition rate of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon layers. As a direct consequence of reduced plasma impedances at higher plasma excitation frequencies, silane dissociation is enhanced and the maximum energy of ions bombarding the growing surface is reduced. Due to softer ion bombardment on the growing surface, the VHF process also favours the formation of microcrystalline silicon. Based on these beneficial properties of VHF plasmas, for the growth of thin silicon films, plasma excitation frequencies f exc in the range 30-300 MHz, i.e. clearly higher than the standard 13.56 MHz, are indeed scheduled to play an important role in future production equipment.(2) In 1994, IMT pioneered a novel thin-film solar cell, the microcrystalline silicon solar cell. This new type of thinfilm absorber material--a form of crystalline silicon--opens up the way for a new concept, the so-called ''micromorph'' tandem solar cell concept. This term stands for the combination of a microcrystalline silicon bottom cell and an amorphous silicon top cell. Thanks to the lower band gap and to the stability of microcrystalline silicon solar cells, a better use of the full solar spectrum is possible, leading, thereby, to higher efficiencies than those obtained with solar cells based solely on amorphous silicon.Both the VHF-GD deposition technique and the ''micromorph'' tandem solar cell concept are considered to be essential for future thin-film PV modules, as they bear the potential for combining high-efficiency devices with low-cost manufacturing processes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amorphous solar cells, the micromorph concept and the role of VHF-GD deposition technique

Meier¹,

Kroll²,

Vallat-Sauvain³

et al. 2004

Solar Energy

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“…Amorphous silicon technology has now achieved an industrial level [5,6] and is economically competitive, contributing thereby to a reduction of the price per W P . However, a-Si:H has always been associated with low efficiencies and with further efficiency losses during operation due to the Staebler-Wronski effect (SWE).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…• C and the application of the monolithic series connection technique for module manufacturing [6,7] were generally considered as key features in order to obtain low manufacturing costs.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microcrystalline silicon and micromorph tandem solar cells

Keppner¹,

Meier

Torres

et al. 1999

Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing

266

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Abstract. "Micromorph" tandem solar cells consisting of a microcrystalline silicon bottom cell and an amorphous silicon top cell are considered as one of the most promising new thin-film silicon solar-cell concepts. Their promise lies in the hope of simultaneously achieving high conversion efficiencies at relatively low manufacturing costs. The concept was introduced by IMT Neuchâtel, based on the VHF-GD (very high frequency glow discharge) deposition method. The key element of the micromorph cell is the hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon bottom cell that opens new perspectives for low-temperature thin-film crystalline silicon technology. According to our present physical understanding microcrystalline silicon can be considered to be much more complex and very different from an ideal isotropic semiconductor. So far, stabilized efficiencies of about 12% (10.7% independently confirmed) could be obtained with micromorph solar cells. The scope of this paper is to emphasize two aspects: the first one is the complexity and the variety of microcrystalline silicon. The second aspect is to point out that the deposition parameter space is very large and mainly unexploited. Nevertheless, the results obtained are very encouraging and confirm that the micromorph concept has the potential to come close to the required performance criteria concerning price and efficiency.The justification of worldwide, intensified research on thinfilm solar cells is not based on a lack of success in the efficiency performance of wafer-based silicon or GaAs technologies. It is based on a lack of hope in the cost reduction potential of wafer-based technology. Indeed, in order to render photovoltaics a competitive energy source in future, it is imperative to adopt the approach of low-cost solar cells.

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Amorphous silicon PV module manufacturing at BP solar

Arya¹,

Carlson²

2002

Progress in Photovoltaics

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BP Solar started manufacturing small-area, single-junction amorphous silicon solar cells for consumer applications in 1984, began producing 1 ft 2 ($0Á09 m 2 ) singlejunction modules for terrestrial applications in 1986 and initiated the production of 8Á6 ft 2 ($0Á77 m 2 ) tandem modules for both remote and building-integrated applications in 1997. Over the last few years, the technical and manufacturing personnel at the BP Solar TF1 plant in Toano, Virginia have made tremendous progress in ramping up the plant to where it is now producing amorphous silicon tandem modules with electrical yields in excess of 95% and at a run rate of more than 7 MW p per year.

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Commercialization of multijunction a-Si modules

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Amorphous solar cells, the micromorph concept and the role of VHF-GD deposition technique

Amorphous solar cells, the micromorph concept and the role of VHF-GD deposition technique

Microcrystalline silicon and micromorph tandem solar cells

Amorphous silicon PV module manufacturing at BP solar

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