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Crystalline silicon on glass (CSG) thin-film solar cell modules

Authors :
Green, M.A.
Basore, P.A.
Chang, N.
Clugston, D.
Egan, R.
Evans, R.
Hogg, D.
Jarnason, S.
Keevers, M.
Lasswell, P.
O'Sullivan, J.
Schubert, U.
Turner, A.
Wenham, S.R.
Young, T.
Source :
Solar Energy. Dec, 2004, Vol. 77 Issue 6, p857, 7 p.
Publication Year :
2004

Abstract

Crystalline silicon on glass (CSG) solar cell technology was developed to address the difficulty that silicon wafer-based technology has in reaching the very low costs required for large-scale photovoltaic applications as well as the perceived fundamental difficulties with other thin-film technologies. The aim was to combine the advantages of standard silicon wafer-based technology, namely ruggedness, durability, good electronic properties and environmental soundness with the advantages of thin-films, specifically low material use, large monolithic construction and a desirable glass superstrate configuration. The challenge has been to match the different preferred processing temperatures of silicon and glass and to obtain strong solar absorption in notoriously weakly-absorbing silicon of only 1.4[micro]m thickness. the thinnest active layer of the key thin-film contenders. A rugged, durable silicon thin-film technology has been developed arguably with the lowest likely manufacturing cost of these contenders and confirmed efficiency for small pilot line modules already in the 8-9%, energy conversion efficiency range, on the path to 12-13%. Keywords: Photovoltaics; Thin-film photovoltaics; Thin-film silicon solar cells

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0038092X
Volume :
77
Issue :
6
Database :
Gale General OneFile
Journal :
Solar Energy
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsgcl.126933869