Makers advance CIGS thin-film solar battery production

Suppliers of thin-film solar batteries in China are making inroads in the development of large-area CIGS types owed to the line’s potential application in commercial structures. The category’s high energy efficiency and aesthetic quality make it suitable for modern and high-rise buildings. Compared with a-Si and CdTe, CIGS’ elevated conversion efficiency is almost on a par with polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The variant also generates 10 to 20 percent more power than CdTe and can deliver better low-light performance.

Solar Energy Co. has developed the first locally made CIGS thin-film solar collector tube, boasting 9 percent photoelectric conversion efficiency. It has 30 and 35mm inner and outer diameters and 120cm length. The company is also completing its 10MW collector tube pilot line and plans to launch six CIGS production units with 620MW total capacity.

The two major types of solar cells are crystalline silicon and thin film. Steep costs and environmental issues are the main challenges in the production of the first. With the silicon purification process, high energy consumption and the emission of harmful chemicals are inevitable. Thin films, on the other hand, are costly to make as they require upscale equipment and involve advanced manufacturing techniques.