Knowledge fuels change - Support energypedia!
For over 10 years, energypedia has been connecting energy experts around the world — helping them share knowledge, learn from each other, and accelerate the global energy transition.
Today, we ask for your support to keep this platform free and accessible to all.
Even a small contribution makes a big difference! If just 10–20% of our 60,000+ monthly visitors donated the equivalent of a cup of coffee — €5 — Energypedia would be fully funded for a whole year.
Is the knowledge you’ve gained through Energypedia this year worth €5 or more?
Your donation keeps the platform running, helps us create new knowledge products, and contributes directly to achieving SDG 7.
Thank you for your support, your donation, big or small, truly matters!
Difference between revisions of "Solar Cells and Modules"
***** (***** | *****) m |
***** (***** | *****) m |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
There are different types of photovoltaic cells: | There are different types of photovoltaic cells: | ||
| − | '''Single crystal PV''' '''cells''' are manufactured using a single-crystal growth method and have commercial efficiencies between 15 % and 18 %. | + | '''Single crystal silicon PV''' '''cells''' are manufactured using a single-crystal growth method and have commercial efficiencies between 15 % and 18 %. |
| − | '''Multicrystalline cells''', usually manufactured from a melting and solidification process, are less expensive to produce but are marginally less efficient, with conversion efficiencies around 14 %. | + | '''Multicrystalline silicon cells''', usually manufactured from a melting and solidification process, are less expensive to produce but are marginally less efficient, with conversion efficiencies around 14 %. |
| − | '''PV cells made from ribbons''' demonstrate an average efficiency around 14 %. | + | '''PV cells made from silicon ribbons''' demonstrate an average efficiency around 14 %. |
'''Thin film cells''', constructed by depositing extremely thin layers of photovoltaic semi-conductor materials onto a backing material such as glass, stainless steel or plastic, show stable efficiencies in the range of 7 % to 13 %. Thin film materials commercially used are amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS). | '''Thin film cells''', constructed by depositing extremely thin layers of photovoltaic semi-conductor materials onto a backing material such as glass, stainless steel or plastic, show stable efficiencies in the range of 7 % to 13 %. Thin film materials commercially used are amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS). | ||
Revision as of 12:43, 24 June 2009
Solar Cells
A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a semiconductor device that converts light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.
There are different types of photovoltaic cells:
Single crystal silicon PV cells are manufactured using a single-crystal growth method and have commercial efficiencies between 15 % and 18 %.
Multicrystalline silicon cells, usually manufactured from a melting and solidification process, are less expensive to produce but are marginally less efficient, with conversion efficiencies around 14 %.
PV cells made from silicon ribbons demonstrate an average efficiency around 14 %.
Thin film cells, constructed by depositing extremely thin layers of photovoltaic semi-conductor materials onto a backing material such as glass, stainless steel or plastic, show stable efficiencies in the range of 7 % to 13 %. Thin film materials commercially used are amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS).
Commercially available thin film modules:
- Are potentially cheaper to manufacture than crystalline cells
- Have a wider customer appeal as design elements due to their homogeneous appearance
- Present disadvantages, such as low-conversion efficiencies and requiring larger areas of PV arrays and more material (cables, support structures) to produce the same amount of electricity
Source: IEA PVPS
Solar Modules
A solar module is a commercial product formed by solar cells.
