Analysis of manufacturing cost and market niches for Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) solar cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1044-1058
Author(s):  
Ao Wang ◽  
Nathan L. Chang ◽  
Kaiwen Sun ◽  
Chaowei Xue ◽  
Renate J. Egan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Manufacturing Costs ◽  
Cost Drivers ◽  
Potential Market ◽  
Reduction Strategies

The manufacturing costs of CZTS with different substrates, major cost drivers, and cost reduction strategies are analyzed. Potential market niches of CZTS products and techno-economic requirements for CZTS commercialization are explored.

A Techno-Economic Analysis and Cost Reduction Roadmap for III-V Solar Cells

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey A. Horowitz ◽  
Timothy W. Remo ◽  
Brittany Smith ◽  
Aaron J. Ptak
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Cost Reduction

scholarly journals The Main Progress of Perovskite Solar Cells in 2020–2021

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianhao Wu ◽  
Zhenzhen Qin ◽  
Yanbo Wang ◽  
Yongzhen Wu ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Lead Free ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
The World ◽  
Photovoltaic Technology

AbstractPerovskite solar cells (PSCs) emerging as a promising photovoltaic technology with high efficiency and low manufacturing cost have attracted the attention from all over the world. Both the efficiency and stability of PSCs have increased steadily in recent years, and the research on reducing lead leakage and developing eco-friendly lead-free perovskites pushes forward the commercialization of PSCs step by step. This review summarizes the main progress of PSCs in 2020 and 2021 from the aspects of efficiency, stability, perovskite-based tandem devices, and lead-free PSCs. Moreover, a brief discussion on the development of PSC modules and its challenges toward practical application is provided.

scholarly journals Cell/Module Integration Technology with Wire-Embedded EVA Sheet

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 4170
Author(s):  
Jeong Eun Park ◽  
Won Seok Choi ◽  
Donggun Lim
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
High Power ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Optical Loss ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Power Module ◽  
Manufacturing Method ◽  
Front Electrode ◽  
The Wire

Silicon wafers are crucial for determining the price of solar cell modules. To reduce the manufacturing cost of photovoltaic devices, the thicknesses of wafers are reduced. However, the conventional module manufacturing method using the tabbing process has a disadvantage in that the cell is damaged because of the high temperature and pressure of the soldering process, which is complicated, thus increasing the process cost. Consequently, when the wafer is thinned, the breakage rate increases during the module process, resulting in a lower yield; further, the module performance decreases owing to cracks and thermal stress. To solve this problem, a module manufacturing method is proposed in which cells and wires are bonded through the lamination process. This method minimizes the thermal damage and mechanical stress applied to solar cells during the tabbing process, thereby manufacturing high-power modules. When adopting this method, the front electrode should be customized because it requires busbarless solar cells different from the existing busbar solar cells. Accordingly, the front electrode was designed using various simulation programs such as Griddler 2.5 and MathCAD, and the effect of the diameter and number of wires in contact with the front finger line of the solar cell on the module characteristics was analyzed. Consequently, the efficiency of the module manufactured with 12 wires and a wire diameter of 0.36 mm exhibited the highest efficiency at 20.28%. This is because even if the optical loss increases with the diameter of the wire, the series resistance considerably decreases rather than the loss of the short-circuit current, thereby improving the fill factor. The characteristics of the wire-embedded ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) sheet module were confirmed to be better than those of the five busbar tabbing modules manufactured by the tabbing process; further, a high-power module that sufficiently compensated for the disadvantages of the tabbing module was manufactured.

Application of ZnGa2O4:Mn Down-Conversion Layer to Increase the Energy-Conversion Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 4362-4366
Author(s):  
Ji Yong Hwang ◽  
Chung Wung Bark ◽  
Hyung Wook Choi
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Tin Oxide ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Light Transmittance ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Down Conversion

The perovskite solar cell is capable of energy conversion in a wide range of wavelengths, from 300 nm to 800 nm, which includes the entire visible region and portions of the ultraviolet and infrared regions. To increase light transmittance of perovskite solar cells and reduce manufacturing cost of perovskite solar cells, soda-lime glass and transparent conducting oxides, such as indium tin oxide and fluorine-doped tin oxide are mainly used as substrates and light-transmitting electrodes, respectively. However, it is evident from the transmittance of soda-lime glass and transparent conductive oxides measured via UV-Vis spectrometry that they absorb all light near and below 310 nm. In this study, a transparent Mn-doped ZnGa2O4 film was fabricated on the incident surface of perovskite solar cells to obtain additional light energy by down-converting 300 nm UV light to 510 nm visible light. We confirmed the improvement of power efficiency by applying a ZnGa2O4:Mn down-conversion layer to perovskite solar cells.

Upper-Extremity Prostheses: A Renewed Approach

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alwyn P. Johnson ◽  
Bradley Veatch
Keyword(s):  
Upper Extremity ◽  
Galvanic Corrosion ◽  
The United States ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Heavy Duty ◽  
Axial Loads ◽  
Manufacturing Costs ◽  
Ongoing Development ◽  
Universal Interface ◽  
And Function

Upper-extremity (UE) prostheses are increasingly more functional and proportionately more costly, rendering them largely unattainable for impoverished amputees in the United States (US) and abroad. Recognizing the increasing need for appropriate devices, PhysioNetics, LLC is developing a heavy-duty, transradial body-powered (BP) UE prosthesis which can be prescribed with minimal instruction. The design of the key components, the split-hook terminal device [TD] and universal adjustable interface is presented in this paper. The TD is primarily fabricated from plastics to eliminate galvanic corrosion in saltwater environments, weighs 5.4 oz (153 g) and uses inexpensive rubber bands to generate pinch force. Unique gripping contours provide versatile grasp and replicate five (5) prehension patterns while six (6) discrete force settings provide 2 – 17 lbf (8.9 – 76 N) of pinch. Three (3) universal interface sizes (small, medium, and large) accommodate most amputees and comfortably support axial loads up to 40 lbf (178 N). Estimated manufacturing cost for a complete unit is less than US$250. Field testers report lower but comparable comfort to their individually custom-fabricated interfaces, and are highly satisfied with fit and function of the prosthesis overall. Ongoing development includes reduction of manufacturing costs, increasing interface comfort and implementing task-specific variant designs.

scholarly journals High-performance hole conductor-free perovskite solar cell using a carbon nanotube counter electrode

RSC Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (59) ◽  
pp. 35831-35839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa K. A. Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Counter Electrode ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cell ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Long Term Stability

Carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) are the most promising photovoltaic (PV) due to their low material and manufacturing cost and superior long-term stability.

Three Generations of Solar Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 1165 ◽  
pp. 113-130
Author(s):  
Romyani Goswami
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Single Crystal ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
High Stability ◽  
Single Crystal Silicon ◽  
Nanocrystalline Silicon ◽  
Crystal Silicon

In photovoltaic system the major challenge is the cost reduction of the solar cell module to compete with those of conventional energy sources. Evolution of solar photovoltaic comprises of several generations through the last sixty years. The first generation solar cells were based on single crystal silicon and bulk polycrystalline Si wafers. The single crystal silicon solar cell has high material cost and the fabrication also requires very high energy. The second generation solar cells were based on thin film fabrication technology. Due to low temperature manufacturing process and less material requirement, remarkable cost reduction was achieved in these solar cells. Among all the thin film technologies amorphous silicon thin film solar cell is in most advanced stage of development and is commercially available. However, an inherent problem of light induced degradation in amorphous silicon hinders the higher efficiency in this kind of cell. The third generation silicon solar cells are based on nano-crystalline and nano-porous materials. Hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) is becoming a promising material as an absorber layer of solar cell due to its high stability with high Voc. It is also suggested that the cause of high stability and less degradation of certain nc-Si:H films may be due to the improvement of medium range order (MRO) of the films. During the last ten years, organic, polymer, dye sensitized and perovskites materials are also attract much attention of the photovoltaic researchers as the low budget next generation PV material worldwide. Although most important challenge for those organic solar cells in practical applications is the stability issue. In this work nc-Si:H films are successfully deposited at a high deposition rate using a high pressure and a high power by Radio Frequency Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (RF PECVD) technique. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies show the formations of distinct nano-sized grains in the amorphous tissue with sharp crystalline orientations. Light induced degradation of photoconductivity of nc-Si:H materials have been studied. Single junction solar cells and solar module were successfully fabricated using nanocrystalline silicon as absorber layer. The optimum cell is 7.1 % efficient initially. Improvement in efficiency can be achieved by optimizing the doped layer/interface and using Ag back contact.

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