Solar energy companies have struggled to control the high manufacturing and installation costs of solar panels for many years, but a new breakthrough in solar panel technology, thin film photovoltaic (PV) cells, promises to drastically cut solar energy costs while offering a wide range of advantages.
Advantages of Thin Film Solar
Size and flexibility are the first and most obvious advantages of thin film technology. According to howstuffworks.com, the light absorbent layers of a thin film PV cell are only one micron thick, compared to 350 microns for older silicon cells. This advantage in size and flexibility creates more options for solar panel installation, allowing seamless integration into surfaces such as the roofs of houses and automobiles, street signs, and outdoor appliances.
As of 2010, the costs of manufacturing thin film solar cells are as low as 30 cents per watt, which is a stark comparison to the $3 per watt cost of manufacturing traditional panels. Material usage is also greatly reduced in the production of thin film cells compared to silicon-wafer technologies, which is an important component of any renewable energy source. In addition to the lower material requirements, current manufacturing processes are highly effective at reducing or eliminating waste.
Amorphous Silicon
Amorphous silicon was the first material used to produce thin film solar cells, but new discoveries have provided scientists with more efficient photovoltaic semiconductor materials such as cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). Silicon is generally more expensive than these newer options, but is more responsive at lower light levels. Despite its drawbacks, amorphous silicon based PV cells are still preferred for small electronics, such as solar calculators.
Cadmium Telluride
Cadmium Telluride is likely the least popular semiconductor used in the production of thin film solar panels, due to cadmium's reputation as a toxic substance that can infiltrate food chains and damage biological processes. In this type of PV cell, cadmium telluride and cadmium sulfide act similarly to the oppositely charged, diluted silicon intraditional solar panels.
CIGS
CIGS-based solar cells are the most efficient and least expensive thin film solar technologies currently in production. A distinct advantage of CIGS photovoltaic cells is the ability of the semiconductor to be deposited on a thin layer of foil, which acts as an electrode to capture and channel electrons freed by the photovoltaic effect.
Production of Thin Film Solar Cells
Increasing cost-efficiency in solar panel production processes remains a large concern for manufacturers and distributors of thin film technology. A new manufacturing process for CIGS solar panels, based on traditional offset printing techniques, is serving to drastically reduce production costs for this new technology. Thin layers of foil can be processed through large mechanical reams as liquified CIGS material is printed on the foil like ink. After depositing a layer of non-reflective zinc oxide, a machine can cut the foil into fully functional thin film solar panels.
Dave Ingram - David Ingram has spent several years writing case studies on all aspects of international business, specializing in marketing and ...
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