Common Photovoltaic Cells Common Photovoltaic Cells and Cost Optimizationand Cost Optimization

OverviewOverview

Overview of solar power Overview of solar power Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems Crystalline PV CellsCrystalline PV Cells Thin Film PV CellsThin Film PV Cells

Solar EnergySolar Energy Certain materials absorb certain Certain materials absorb certain

wavelengths wavelengths The shorter the wavelength the The shorter the wavelength the

greater the energygreater the energy Ultraviolet light has more energy Ultraviolet light has more energy

than infrared lightthan infrared light Crystalline silicon Crystalline silicon

Utilizes all the visible spectrum Utilizes all the visible spectrum plus some infrared radiationplus some infrared radiation

Heat vs. electrical energyHeat vs. electrical energy Light frequencies that is too high Light frequencies that is too high

or too low for the semiconductor or too low for the semiconductor to absorb turn into heat energy to absorb turn into heat energy instead of electrical energyinstead of electrical energy

Solar EnergySolar Energy "I'd put my money on

the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that."–Thomas Edison, 1931.

The sun provides every The sun provides every day 10,000 times the day 10,000 times the energy needed on the energy needed on the planet planet

Abundant, Clean and Abundant, Clean and Secure Secure

Solar EnergySolar Energy

Solar Cell Production VolumeSolar Cell Production Volume

Economic Problems Economic Problems

Material CostMaterial Cost Process CostProcess Cost Module Module

EfficiencyEfficiency

Module SizeModule Size Module Module

Weight Weight Labor CostLabor Cost

Economic Problems Economic Problems

Crystalline Solar Cells Crystalline Solar Cells

Materials: Crystalline SiliconMaterials: Crystalline Silicon Grown into large single-crystal ingotsGrown into large single-crystal ingots Sawed into thin wafersSawed into thin wafers 2 wafers are bonded together (p-n 2 wafers are bonded together (p-n

junction)junction) Wafers grouped into panels or arraysWafers grouped into panels or arrays

Crystalline Solar CellsCrystalline Solar Cells

Crystalline Silicon ProcessCrystalline Silicon Process

Crystalline Silicon ProcessCrystalline Silicon Process

Crystalline PV Cell Cost Crystalline PV Cell Cost OptimizationOptimization

Material Efficiency Fabrication Line Scale

Crystalline PV Cell Cost Crystalline PV Cell Cost OptimizationOptimization

Thin Film Solar CellsThin Film Solar Cells

Thin Film Cost OptimizationThin Film Cost Optimization

Large area processing = low cost per area

Thin Film Cost OptimizationThin Film Cost Optimization

ConclusionConclusion Solar energy is one of the most Solar energy is one of the most

important for future energy resource important for future energy resource Crystalline and thin film PV cells are Crystalline and thin film PV cells are

the most common solar cells these the most common solar cells these daysdays

Cost optimization of PV cells is Cost optimization of PV cells is extremely important extremely important

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