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| | == '''Monocrystalline Silicon PV''' C'''ells''' == | | == '''Monocrystalline Silicon PV''' C'''ells''' == |
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| − | Monocrystalline silicon PV cells are manufactured using a single-crystal growth method and have commercial efficiencies between 15 % and 18 %. | + | Monocrystalline silicon PV cells are made from silicon wafers that are cut from cylindrical single-crystal silicon ingots. To form nearly quadratic cells, that can be easily integrated in one module, the rotund cells have to be cut. Thus, refined silicon is wasted in the cell production process. |
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| | + | Modules consisting of monocrystalline silicon PV cells reach commercial efficiencies between 15 % and 18 %. So far, they are the most efficient modules and have the largest market share. <br> |
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| − | '''PV cells made from silicon ribbons''' demonstrate an average efficiency around 14 %.
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| − | <br>
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| | == '''Polycrystalline Silicon PV Cells''' == | | == '''Polycrystalline Silicon PV Cells''' == |
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| − | Polycrystalline or multicrystalline silicon PV cells are usually manufactured from a melting and solidification process, are less expensive to produce but are marginally less efficient, with conversion efficiencies around 14 %. | + | Polycrystalline or multicrystalline silicon PV cells are made from cast square ingots - large blocks of molten silicon, carefully cooled and solidified. They are less expensive to produce compared to monocrystalline silicon PV cells, but are marginally less efficient, with module conversion efficiencies between 13 and 16 %. |
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| | == '''Thin Film PV Cells''' == | | == '''Thin Film PV Cells''' == |
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| − | Thin film PV cells are 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). | + | The various thin film technologies currently being developed reduce the amount (or mass) of light absorbing material required in creating a solar cell. This can lead to reduced processing costs from that of bulk materials (in the case of silicon thin films) but also tends to reduce energy conversion efficiency (an average 6 to 12 % module efficiency), |
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| | + | Thin film PV cells are constructed by depositing extremely thin layers of photovoltaic semi-conductor materials onto a backing material such as glass, stainless steel or plastic. Thin film materials commercially used are amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper-indium-(gallium)-diselenide (CI(G)S). |
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| | Commercially available thin film modules: | | Commercially available thin film modules: |
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| | <br> | | <br> |
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| − | Source: [http://www.iea-pvps.org/pv/snapshot/techproc.htm IEA PVPS]
| + | Partly taken from: [http://www.iea-pvps.org/pv/snapshot/techproc.htm IEA PVPS] |
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| | {| style="width: 564px; height: 294px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1" | | {| style="width: 564px; height: 294px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1" |
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| | | valign="top" width="267" | | | | valign="top" width="267" | |
| − | '''<span>Surface area needed for 1 kWp</span>''' | + | '''<span>Surface area needed for 1 kW<sub>p</sub></span>''' |
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| | | valign="top" width="143" | | | | valign="top" width="143" | |
| − | <span>15-18 %</span> | + | <span>15-18 %</span> |
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| | | valign="top" width="267" | | | | valign="top" width="267" | |
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| | | valign="top" width="143" | | | | valign="top" width="143" | |
| − | <span>13-16 %</span> | + | <span>13-16 %</span> |
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| | | valign="top" width="267" | | | | valign="top" width="267" | |
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| | | valign="top" width="205" | | | | valign="top" width="205" | |
| − | <span>Micromorphe tandem (aµ-Si)</span> | + | <span>Micromorph tandem (aµ-Si)</span> |
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| | | valign="top" width="143" | | | | valign="top" width="143" | |
| − | <span>6-9 %</span> | + | <span>6-9 %</span> |
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| | | valign="top" width="267" | | | | valign="top" width="267" | |
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| | | valign="top" width="205" | | | | valign="top" width="205" | |
| − | <span>Thin film:</span> | + | <span>Thin film:</span> |
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| − | <span>Copper-indium-diselenide (CIS)</span> | + | <span>Copper indium diselenide (CIS)</span> |
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| | | valign="top" width="143" | | | | valign="top" width="143" | |
| − | <span>10-12 %</span> | + | <span>10-12 %</span> |
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| | | valign="top" width="267" | | | | valign="top" width="267" | |
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| | | valign="top" width="205" | | | | valign="top" width="205" | |
| − | <span>Thin film:</span> | + | <span>Thin film:</span> |
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| − | Cadmium-telluride (CdTe), | + | Cadmium telluride (CdTe), |
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| | | valign="top" width="143" | | | | valign="top" width="143" | |
| − | <span>9-11 %</span> | + | <span>9-11 %</span> |
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| | | valign="top" width="267" | | | | valign="top" width="267" | |
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| | | valign="top" width="143" | | | | valign="top" width="143" | |
| − | <span>6-8 %</span> | + | <span>6-8 %</span> |
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| | | valign="top" width="267" | | | | valign="top" width="267" | |
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| | [[Solar Main Page|⇒ Back to Solar Section]] | | [[Solar Main Page|⇒ Back to Solar Section]] |
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| | [[Category:Solar]] | | [[Category:Solar]] |
Monocrystalline silicon PV cells are made from silicon wafers that are cut from cylindrical single-crystal silicon ingots. To form nearly quadratic cells, that can be easily integrated in one module, the rotund cells have to be cut. Thus, refined silicon is wasted in the cell production process.
Modules consisting of monocrystalline silicon PV cells reach commercial efficiencies between 15 % and 18 %. So far, they are the most efficient modules and have the largest market share.
Polycrystalline or multicrystalline silicon PV cells are made from cast square ingots - large blocks of molten silicon, carefully cooled and solidified. They are less expensive to produce compared to monocrystalline silicon PV cells, but are marginally less efficient, with module conversion efficiencies between 13 and 16 %.
The various thin film technologies currently being developed reduce the amount (or mass) of light absorbing material required in creating a solar cell. This can lead to reduced processing costs from that of bulk materials (in the case of silicon thin films) but also tends to reduce energy conversion efficiency (an average 6 to 12 % module efficiency),
Thin film PV cells are constructed by depositing extremely thin layers of photovoltaic semi-conductor materials onto a backing material such as glass, stainless steel or plastic. Thin film materials commercially used are amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper-indium-(gallium)-diselenide (CI(G)S).
The peak power output of a solar module depends on the number of cells connected and their size. Module performance is generally rated under Standard Test Conditions (STC) : irradiance of 1,000 W/m², solar spectrum of AM 1.5 and module temperature at 25°C. Solar modules are rated in peak watts [Wp] according to their output under STC. Thus, a 50 Wp module can be expected to supply 50 W of power under optimal conditions. The performance is reduced by high temperatures.
Modules can be connected in series and/or in parallel depending on the system requirements. A serial connection increases the voltage, a parallel connection increases the current.
