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On Industrial Production of Thin Film CdTe PV Modules

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Dieter Bonnet
Dieter Bonnet*
Affiliation:
dieterbonnet@aol.com, SOLARPACT e.V., non, Breslauer Ring 9a, Friedrichsdorf, D-61381, Germany, +49 6172 71302
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Abstract

Due to its basic physical and chemical properties CdTe has become a favored base material for thin film solar cells using robust, high-throughput manu-facturing procedures. The technology shows significant potential for attaining cost levels of <1 $/Wp. Close-Spaced Sublimation (CSS) is the fastest and simplest deposition process for both semiconductors used, CdTe and CdS, permitting in-line production at high linear speed of about 1 m/min.. The individual manufacturing steps for integrated modules are explained in view of their incorporation in the production line. ANTEC Solar GmbH has entered production of CdTe thin film modules on a scale of 100,000 m2 per annum using CSS as the deposition procedure for the semiconductor films and high-rate in-line sputtering for transparent and opaque contacts. Standard module size is 60 × 120 cm2. The production line is operative since 2002, without major problems. This article recounts the efforts to master lab processes for application in production.

Keywords

photovoltaicII-VIphysical vapor deposition (PVD)
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1012: Symposium Y – Thin-Film Compound Semiconductor Photovoltaics-2007 , 2007 , 1012-Y05-01
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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