Development of 60 cm×120 cm thin film CdTe PV modules

Equipment has been designed and built to produce 60 cm×120 cm thin film CdTe solar cell modules at a low throughput rate (~100 kW/year) to prove the feasibility of the product and process prior to the construction of a high throughput production line. Thin films of CdS and CdTe are deposited by a variation of close spaced sublimation on SnO ₂:F coated glass superstrates. Modules have been produced with peak power output of more than 50 watts under AM 1.5 conditions. This paper describes the modules, the process steps used to fabricate them, and the performance characteristics of modules produced to date. Also included is a discussion of the main issues involved in evaluating the suitability of this technology for production of PV modules on a commercial basis, the authors´ main conclusions to date and their projections for the future