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Ultralight Amorphous Silicon Alloy Photovoltaic Modules For Space Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Kevin Beernink ,
Ginger Pietka ,
Jeff Noch ,
Kais Younan ,
David Wolf ,
Arindam Banerjee ,
Jeffrey Yang ,
Scott Jones  and
Subhendu Guha
Kevin Beernink
Affiliation:
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., 2956 Waterview Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309, U.S.A.
Ginger Pietka
Affiliation:
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., 2956 Waterview Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309, U.S.A.
Jeff Noch
Affiliation:
United Solar Systems Corp., 1100 W. Maple Rd., Troy, MI 48084, U.S.A.
Kais Younan
Affiliation:
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., 2956 Waterview Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309, U.S.A.
David Wolf
Affiliation:
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., 2956 Waterview Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309, U.S.A.
Arindam Banerjee
Affiliation:
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., 2956 Waterview Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309, U.S.A.
Jeffrey Yang
Affiliation:
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., 2956 Waterview Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309, U.S.A.
Scott Jones
Affiliation:
United Solar Systems Corp., 1100 W. Maple Rd., Troy, MI 48084, U.S.A.
Subhendu Guha
Affiliation:
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., 2956 Waterview Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Results for solar cells with high specific power (W/kg) using amorphous silicon alloy technology are reported. Currently available roll-to-roll production technology capable of high volume has been used to form cells on thinned stainless steel with high specific power. Results of cells on thinned stainless steel formed in batch mode in research and development (R&D) machines are also presented. Cells on polyimide in the early R&D stage have also been formed and are described. An analysis of cell component material and dimension changes to increase specific power shows that specific power ∼2000 W/kg is possible as a long-term goal. Cells with specific power ranging from 300 to 400 W/kg for production cells with 8.5 % beginning of life AM0 efficiency to over 1200 W/kg for R&D cells on polyimide substrates are presented.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 730: Symposium V – Materials for Energy Storage, Generation, and Transport , 2002 , V6.2
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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References

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