Issues in thin film PV manufacturing cost reduction

Zweibel, K.

doi:10.1016/s0927-0248(99)00019-7

Cited by 96 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…1 Flexible stainless steel (StS) substrates are clearly cheaper compared to TCO glass 2,3 and also suitable for roll-to-roll mass production. StS has been used both as counter electrode (CE) [4][5][6][7][8] and photoelectrode (PE) substrate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Segmented Cell Design for Improved Factoring of Aging Effects in Dye Solar Cells

Miettunen¹,

Halme²,

Lund³

2009

J. Phys. Chem. C

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A new segmented cell design was applied to study the aging of dye solar cell with stainless steel (StS) photoelectrode substrate, in particular the role of electrolyte in the degradation. Photovoltaic showed changes in the recombination at the photoelectrode / electrolyte interface. With the segmented cell method, we confirmed that the electrolyte was not contaminated by the StS nor was it subject to other significant changes related to the rapid degradation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Segmented Cell Design for Improved Factoring of Aging Effects in Dye Solar Cells

Miettunen¹,

Halme²,

Lund³

2009

J. Phys. Chem. C

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“…However, the high cost and low material utilisation of the equipment used to produce these layers may be a barrier to their commercialisation and will increase the cost of the electricity generated by CIGS-based systems [3]. Nonvacuum techniques for CIGS deposition offer potential reductions in capital cost and many such techniques have been investigated [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films prepared from chemically processed precursor layers

et al. 2009

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“…[44][45][46][47] Assumed annual plant production and yields ranged from 60 MW and 88% 44 to 3 GW and 93%. 47 These studies assumed module efficiencies only slightly higher than today's values; 7-9% for a-Si; and 10-12% for CdTe and Cu (InGa)Se 2 .…”

Section: Reducing the Cost Of Tfsc Via Large Scale Manufacturingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thin film solar modules: the low cost, high throughput and versatile alternative to Si wafers

Hegedus

2006

Progress in Photovoltaics

162

106

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Thin film solar cells (TFSC) have passed adolescence and are ready to make a substantial contribution to the world's electricity generation. They can have advantages over c-Si solar modules in ease of large area, lower cost manufacturing and in several types of applications. Factors which limit TFSC module performance relative to champion cell performance are discussed along with the importance of increased throughput and yield. The consensus of several studies is that all TFSC can achieve costs below 1 $/W if manufactured at sufficiently large scale >100 MW using parallel lines of cloned equipment with high material utilization and spray-on encapsulants. There is significant new commercial interest in TFSC from small investors and large corporations, validating the thin film approach. Unique characteristics are discussed which give TFSC an advantage over c-Si in two specific markets: small rural solar home systems and building integrated photovoltaic installations. TFSC have outperformed c-Si in annual energy production (kWhrs/kW), have demonstrated outdoor durability comparable to c-Si and are being used in MW scale installations worldwide. The merits of the thin film approach cannot be judged on the basis of efficiency alone but must also account for module performance and potential for low cost. TFSC advocates should promote their unique virtues compared to c-Si: lower cost, higher kWhr/kW output, higher battery charging current, attractive visual appearance, flexible substrates, long-term stability comparable to c-Si, and multiple pathways for deposition with room for innovation and evolutionary improvement. There is a huge market for TFSC even at today's efficiency if costs can be reduced. A brief window of opportunity exists for TFSC over the next few years due the Si shortage. The demonstrated capabilities and advantages of TFSC must be proclaimed more persistently to funding decision-makers and customers without minimizing the remaining challenges.

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Issues in thin film PV manufacturing cost reduction

Cited by 96 publications

References 4 publications

Segmented Cell Design for Improved Factoring of Aging Effects in Dye Solar Cells

Segmented Cell Design for Improved Factoring of Aging Effects in Dye Solar Cells

Structural properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films prepared from chemically processed precursor layers

Thin film solar modules: the low cost, high throughput and versatile alternative to Si wafers

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