PROCIS: Production of large area CIS modules

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0402

Key words (English)

CIGS; CIS; solar cells; solar energy; thin films; photovoltaics; buffer layers;
Economic Aspects; Environmental Protection; Energy Saving; Renewable Sources of Energy

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: ENK5-2000-00331

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4b.1 Cleaner energy systems, including renewables

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

ZSW-Stuttgart (D), Uni. Stuttgart (D), Würth Solar Marbach (D), Uni Uppsala (S), CNRS.LEAA Paris (F), ETH Zurich (CH), EDF.PI DRD Paris (F)

Abstract (English)

Cu (In, Ga) Se2 based thin film solar cell technology is at the leading edge of new low cost photovoltaic module production. Aim of the project is to make the technology suitable for the cost effective production of 120x60 cm2 CIGS modules at high throughput. Innovative developments in the project are the deposition of the absorber layer on large area substrates at low substrate temperature and to reduce the thickness of the absorber layers to <0.5um. This task reduces processing time for the deposition of the absorber and at the same time minimises the usage of material. Furthermore, junction formation by dry deposited Cd-free front electrodes avoid the usage of the heavy metal Cd and allow a coherent in- line processing. The goal is to implement these process steps in an existing pilot line for the production on 120x60cm2 modules and by this open the ways for further up-scaling to production volumes of more than 10 MW/year.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0402