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CIS‐based thin‐film photovoltaic modules: potential and prospects
Author(s) -
Dimmler B.,
Powalla M.,
Schock H.W.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.413
Subject(s) - copper indium gallium selenide solar cells , joint venture , photovoltaic system , quality (philosophy) , materials science , manufacturing engineering , thin film , line (geometry) , engineering physics , scaling , process engineering , mechanical engineering , computer science , electrical engineering , engineering , nanotechnology , physics , mathematics , business administration , business , geometry , quantum mechanics
Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS), one of the main candidates of thin film absorber materials, is considered to have the highest potential with respect to module quality. To achieve very large capacities further developments of the manufacturing technologies are still necessary. On the basis of the fundamental work of IPE the ZSW has developed the technologies for all process steps on a module size of 30 × 30 cm 2 on glass substrates. Average module efficiencies are well above 10%, with a tendency to improve efficiency to a maximum of 12.7% on a 30 × 30 cm 2 module area. The next step of scaling up has started as a joint venture of ZSW, the Würth group and the EnBW AG, forming Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG. The objective of the company is to commercialise CuIn Se 2 (CIS) technology and PV products. Operation of a pilot line with final nominal capacity of about 1 MW p /yr was began in spring 2000. After transfer of ZSW baseline technology and successful optimisation of the pilot line, the first modules of 60 × 120 cm 2 area, with efficiencies exceeding 8%, have been fabricated. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.