Improved conversion efficiencies of thin-film silicon tandem (MICROMORPH™) photovoltaic modules

Cashmore, Julian S.; Apolloni, Marco; Braga, Antonio; Caglar, Onur; Cervetto, Valentina; Fenner, Yves; Goldbach-Aschemann, S.; Goury, C.; Hötzel, J.; Iwahashi, Takashi; Kalaš, J.; Kitamura, Masayuki; Klindworth, M.; Kupich, M.; Leu, G.-F.; Lin, Jun; Lindic, Marie-Hélène; Losio, Paolo A.; Mates, T.; Matsunaga, Daisuke; Mereu, B.; Nguyen, Xuan‐Viet; Psimoulis, I.; Ristau, S.; Roschek, T.; Salabas, A.; Salabas, E.L.; Sinicco, I.

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2015.08.022

Cited by 50 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Modelling of the ohmic losses in the series interconnection in the large area module led to a module design change with an increased number of segments and greatly reduced module series resistance that drove the increase in FF demonstrated in the record module. These contributing features to the record module will be discussed in more detail in a later publication [21,22].…”

Section: Record Module Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Record 12.34% stabilized conversion efficiency in a large area thin‐film silicon tandem (MICROMORPH™) module

Cashmore¹,

Apolloni²,

Braga³

et al. 2015

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Mass-adoption of thin-film silicon (TF-Si) photovoltaic modules as a renewable energy source can be viable if the cost of electricity production from the module is competitive with conventional energy solutions. Increased module performance (electrical power generated) is an approach to reduce this cost. Progress towards higher conversion efficiencies for 'champion' large area modules paves the way for mass-production module performance to follow. At TEL Solar AG, Trübbach, Switzerland, significant progress in the absolute stabilized module conversion efficiency has been achieved through optimized solar cell design that integrates high-quality amorphous and microcrystalline TF-Si-deposited materials with efficient light management and transparent conductive oxide layers in a tandem MICROMORPH ™ module. This letter reports a world record large area (1.43 m 2 ) stabilized module conversion efficiency of 12.34% certified by the European Solar Test Installation; an increase of more than 1.4% absolute compared with the previous record for a TF-Si triple junction large area module. This breakthrough result generates more than 13.2% stabilized efficiency from each equivalent 1 cm 2 of the active area of the full module.

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Section: Record Module Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Record 12.34% stabilized conversion efficiency in a large area thin‐film silicon tandem (MICROMORPH™) module

Cashmore¹,

Apolloni²,

Braga³

et al. 2015

Progress in Photovoltaics

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“…At the present time, a-Si:H/μc-Si:H tandem solar cells (micromorph solar cells) have been developed with stabilized efficiencies up to 12% [9].…”

Section: Microcrystalline Silicon (μC-si:h)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Amorphous, Polymorphous, and Microcrystalline Silicon Thin Films Deposited by Plasma at Low Temperatures

Moreno¹,

Ambrosio²,

ArturoTorres³

et al. 2016

Crystalline and Non-Crystalline Solids

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The present chapter is devoted to the study of amorphous (a-Si:H), polymorphous (pmSi:H), and microcrystalline (μc-Si:H) silicon, deposited by the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique at low temperatures. We have studied the main deposition parameters that have strong influence on the optical, electrical, and structural properties of the polymorphous and microcrystalline materials. Our results reveal the key deposition conditions for obtained films with optical and electrical characteristics, which are suitable for applications on thin-film solar cells and semiconductor devices.

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“…The incorporation of this a‐Si:H single‐junction as a top cell in a tandem device contributed towards a world‐record large‐area stabilized module PCE of 12.34% developed at TEL Solar AG, Trübbach, and presented by Cashmore et al . .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This value has been measured and certified at the Swiss PV Module Test Center (SUPSI) [7] and indicates the unexplored potential for a-Si technology and its challenging champion cell results [8,9] obtained under laboratory conditions. The incorporation of this a-Si:H single-junction as a top cell in a tandem device contributed towards a world-record largearea stabilized module PCE of 12.34% developed at TEL Solar AG, Trübbach, and presented by Cashmore et al [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Record amorphous silicon single-junction photovoltaic module with 9.1% stabilized conversion efficiency on 1.43 m²

Salabas¹,

Salabas²,

Mereu³

et al. 2016

Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl.

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Providing two-thirds of the total stabilized power of thin-film tandem MICROMORPH TM technology, the amorphous junction remains a key element in the quest for higher efficiencies. This paper reports and summarizes a considerable work to achieve a record large-area amorphous silicon single-junction photovoltaic module. New hardware has been developed and known process steps have been accurately tuned and combined with new features of cell design. Effort was focused on the deposition of high-quality and low-defect a-Si:H layers that has promoted an improved device stability and resistance against light induced degradation. Efficient light management has been used, and module design has been revised. The word-record performance reported in this paper for a large-area (1.43 m 2 ) stabilized module conversion efficiency (total area) was measured and certified by Swiss PV Module Test Center to be 9.1%.

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Improved conversion efficiencies of thin-film silicon tandem (MICROMORPH™) photovoltaic modules

Cited by 50 publications

References 21 publications

Record 12.34% stabilized conversion efficiency in a large area thin‐film silicon tandem (MICROMORPH™) module

Record 12.34% stabilized conversion efficiency in a large area thin‐film silicon tandem (MICROMORPH™) module

Amorphous, Polymorphous, and Microcrystalline Silicon Thin Films Deposited by Plasma at Low Temperatures

Record amorphous silicon single-junction photovoltaic module with 9.1% stabilized conversion efficiency on 1.43 m²

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Improved conversion efficiencies of thin-film silicon tandem (MICROMORPH™) photovoltaic modules

Cited by 50 publications

References 21 publications

Record 12.34% stabilized conversion efficiency in a large area thin‐film silicon tandem (MICROMORPH™) module

Record 12.34% stabilized conversion efficiency in a large area thin‐film silicon tandem (MICROMORPH™) module

Amorphous, Polymorphous, and Microcrystalline Silicon Thin Films Deposited by Plasma at Low Temperatures

Record amorphous silicon single-junction photovoltaic module with 9.1% stabilized conversion efficiency on 1.43 m2

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Resources

About

Record amorphous silicon single-junction photovoltaic module with 9.1% stabilized conversion efficiency on 1.43 m²