Opportunities in the Solar Cell Market for Thin Film Technology

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Solar Cell Technology

• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Generations of development
  • 2.2.1 First Generation
  • 2.2.2 Second Generation
  • 2.2.3 Third Generation
• 2.3 History
• 2.4 Theory of Operation
  • 2.4.1 Simple explanation
  • 2.4.2 Photogeneration of charge carriers
  • 2.4.3 Charge carrier separation
  • 2.4.4 The p-n junction
  • 2.4.5 Connection to an external load
  • 2.4.6 Equivalent circuit of a solar cell
• 2.5 Solar cell efficiency factors
  • 2.5.1 Maximum-power point
  • 2.5.2 Energy conversion efficiency
  • 2.5.3 Fill factor
  • 2.5.4 Quantum efficiency
  • 2.5.5 Comparison of energy conversion efficiencies
    • 2.5.5.1 Peak watt (or Watt peak)
    • 2.5.5.2 Solar cells and energy payback
• 2.6 Light-absorbing materials
  • 2.6.1 Bulk
    • 2.6.1.1 Silicon
  • 2.6.2 Thin films
    • 2.6.2.1 CdTe
    • 2.6.2.2 CIGS
    • 2.6.2.3 CIS
    • 2.6.2.4 Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) Multijunction
    • 2.6.2.5 Light Absorbing Dyes
    • 2.6.2.6 Organic/Polymer Solar Cells
    • 2.6.2.7 Silicon Thin Films
  • 2.6.3 Nanocrystalline solar cells
• 2.7 Concentrating photovoltaics (CPV)
• 2.8 Overview Of Research On Materials And Devices
  • 2.8.1 Silicon Processing
  • 2.8.2 Thin-Film Processing
  • 2.8.3 Polymer Processing
  • 2.8.4 Nanoparticle Processing
  • 2.8.5 Transparent Conductors

Chapter 3 Solar Cell Manufacturing

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 How Solar Cells Are Made
  • 3.2.1 Silicon Solar Cell
    • 3.2.1.1 Polysilicon Production
    • 3.2.1.2 Polysilicon Shortages
  • 3.2.2 Etching And Texturing
  • 3.2.3 Diffusion And Edge Isolation
  • 3.2.4 Anti-Reflection Coating
  • 3.2.5 Metallization
• 3.3 Case Study - First Solar
  • 3.3.1 Deposition
  • 3.3.2 Cell Definition
  • 3.3.3 Assembly And Test
  • 3.3.4 Raw Materials

Chapter 4 Thin Film TechnologY

• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Silicon Deposition Technologies
  • 4.2.1 Amorphous Silicon Deposition
  • 4.2.2 Microcrystalline Silicon Deposition
• 4.3 Compound Semiconductor Deposition Technologies
  • 4.3.1 Introduction
  • 4.3.2 CdTe - Cadmium Telluride
  • 4.3.3 CIGS - Copper Indium Gallium Selenide
  • 4.3.4 GaAs - Gallium Arsenide

Chapter 5 Solar Markets

• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Key Growth Drivers
  • 5.2.1 Government Incentives
  • 5.2.2 Fossil Fuel Supply Constraints
  • 5.2.3 Growing Awareness Of The Advantages Of Solar Power
  • 5.2.4 Advances In Technologies
  • 5.2.5 Large Market Among Underserved Populations
• 5.3 Challenges Facing The Solar Power Industry
• 5.4 Cost Of A Photovoltaic System
• 5.5 Operating Metrics Of A Photovoltaic System
• 5.6 Types Of PV System
  • 5.6.1 Grid Connected Sector
  • 5.6.2 Off-Grid Sector
  • 5.6.3 Market Development
• 5.7 Market Analysis
  • 5.7.1 Solar Cell Market
  • 5.7.2 Polysilicon Solar Cell Market
  • 5.7.3 Thin Film Solar Cell Market
    • 5.7.3.1 Driving Forces
    • 5.7.3.2 Competing Technologies
    • 5.7.3.3 Third-Generation Technologies
  • 5.7.4 Consummables For Thin Films
    • 5.7.4.1 Indium
    • 5.7.4.2 Gallium
    • 5.7.4.3 Cadmium
    • 5.7.4.4 Tellurium
  • 5.7.5 Thin Film Solar Cell Equipment Market
  • 5.7.6 Substrates

Appendix List of Equipment and Material Suppliers

LIST OF TABLES

• 3.1 Polysilicon Capacity Forecast
• 4.1 Thin Film CIGS Solar Cells Efficiencies
• 4.2 Polycrystalline Thin Film PV Modules
• 5.1 Efficiency Ranges Of Solar Cells
• 5.2 Historic Solar Cell Consumption By Region 1990-2006
• 5.3 Solar Cell Producer Shipments
• 5.4 Solar Cell Forecast 2003-2010
• 5.5 Market Share Of Solar Cells By Technology 1999-2010
• 5.6 Polysilicon Production Capacities By Company 2004 - 2010
• 5.7 Solar Power And Polysilicon Consumption Forecast
• 5.8 Thin Film Solar Cell Producers
• 5.9 Cost Comparison Of Thin Film Technologies
• 5.1 Production Figures For Indium
• 5.11 Production Figures For Gallium
• 5.12 Production Figures For Cadmium
• 5.13 Production Figures For Tellurium
• 5.14 Affect Of Substrate Material On CIGS Solar Efficiency

LIST OF FIGURES

• 2.1 Best Research-Cell Efficiencies
• 2.2 Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Schematic
• 2.3 Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cell
• 2.4 Schematic Of Sliver Cell
• 3.1 Diagram Of Solar Cell
• 3.2 Cross Section Of A Solar Cell Under Illumination
• 3.3 Polysilicon Manufacturing And Supply Chain
• 3.4 First Solar' s Production Line
• 4.1 Sharp' s Triple-Junction Solar Cell
• 4.2 Factory Flow For 20 MW/Year CGS Facility
• 4.2 Schematic Of CdTe And Cigs Device Structures
• 4.3 CdTe Thin Film Deposition By VTD
• 4.4 CdTe Thin Film Deposition By Close Space Sublimation (CSS) Schematic
• 4.5 CdTe Thin Film Deposition By VTD2
• 4.6 CIGS Deposition System By Evaporation
• 4.7 Cross-Sectional Schematic Diagram Of The InGaP/InGaAs/Ge ATJ Cell
• 5.1 Best Research-Cell Efficiencies
• 5.2 Historic Solar Cell Consumption By Region
• 5.3 Solar Cell Production By Type
• 5.4 Thin Film Solar Cell Production By Type - 1999-2010
• 5.5 Polysilicon Capacity Market Share 2004
• 5.6 Polysilicon Capacity Market Share 2010
• 5.7 Polysilicon Consumption In Grams Per W And Production (MT)
• 5.8 Polysilicon Production And Consumption (MT)
• 5.9 Best Research-Thin Film Cell Efficiencies
• 5.1 Schematic Diagrams Of Thin-Film CdTe, CIGS, and a-Si Thin Film PV Devices
• 5.11 Thin Film Solar Cell Power As A Percentage Of Total Solar Power 2003-2010
• 5.12 Schematic Thin-Film Roll-To-Roll Equipment
• 5.13 Market Forecast for Solar Cell Production Equipment