The race in the new exotic thin films just got more interesting with Qcells investing in a Swedish company which will produce CIGS based thin film cells.
It shows that the race in solar power thin film will be between amorphous (and micromorph configurations of amorphous) and CIS/CIGS-based cell producers.
While amorphous makers have been proving for decades that they can produce repetitively with controlled and known costs, the CIS/CIGS producers have had a much harder time understanding their cost bases, while also dealing with more exotic components of their “recipes” thus making it harder to predict costs down the road.
Typically, CIGS/CIS based cells have higher STC efficiencies than Amorphous-silicon based ones. However amorphous solar power is lower costing to produce. So you have even within the thin film world, a “horses for courses” approach which must be taken prior to determining which technology is right for which application.
It just goes to show that our microchip solar world just keeps getting more and more interesting. From nanocrystalline to micromorph, we are about to live in a radically changed environment within the next 12 months. Hang on to your solar hats…
Sass
PS. My absence from the blogosphere for the past two weeks was primarily due to the integration of a number of new key members of our team which will be announced shortly as per SEC regulations (for those in the executive level). Oh what a feeling…
3 Comments
What is the maximum efficiency for Amorphous-silicon based cells?
What efficiency could Amorphous-silicon get with multi-junction or hybrid technologies?
SASS:
Asi cells today reach about 7-8% stable efficiencies, depending on which substrate, backside coating and deposition process is used. Efficienciy of multijunction of hybrid is said to be around 10-11% under STC.
I think then that multijunction of hybrid is the best thin film technology.
The cost is low, it is possible roll to roll processing, there are not exotic components and CIGS do not get 11% efficiency today. I hope ICP goes hybrid….
re: “we are about to live in a radically changed environment within the next 12 months”
I work for a progressive electric utility and we are committed to making renewable energy technologies available to our customers. Solar would be a great product for us but the cost is too high for the average person. When do you see these technologies bringing the costs down so my average customer would want a 1kw array on his roof? Is there any creative ways utilities can partner with manufacturers to bring the cost down now?
SASS COMMENT:
Colin, give me a shout when you wish and we can talk on the phone. The cost must be related to the subsidies in your area and what your utility can value in terms of green credits. I am at the HQ location now at 514 270-5770 x105.
Sass