Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Solar Panels

Normally thin film cells have quite a bit lower efficiency than c si cells but the latest products from first solar have a 14.

Cadmium telluride photovoltaic solar panels.

The question of what happens when indictments of current energy sources are also levied towards alternative sources is an important one. There are two main types of thin film pv semiconductors on the market today. Advancements in solar technology and the rapidly expanding landscape of photovoltaic arrays are raising concerns about environmental toxicity namely the use of cadmium telluride cdte in most photovoltaic pv solar cells. Cadmium telluride cdte photovoltaics describes a photovoltaic pv technology that is based on the use of cadmium telluride in a thin semiconductor layer designed to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity.

Implementation of better quality glass more transparent conductive oxides introduction of a high resistivity transparent film under the cds junction partner higher. As the second most common photovoltaic technology on the market behind traditional crystalline silicon cadmium telluride cdte panels are already a viable thin film solar panel solution. Cadmium telluride cdte is the most common type of thin film solar cell in production. Cadmium telluride cdte is a stable crystalline compound formed from cadmium and tellurium.

Development of cdte as a solar cell material dates back to the early 1980s when 10 efficient devices were demonstrated. It is mainly used as the semiconducting material in cadmium telluride photovoltaics and an infrared optical window. First solar a us based manufacturer makes attractive pv modules that can be used in home applications. Pv solar cells based on cdte represent the largest segment of commercial thin film module production worldwide.

Their efficiency ranges from 15 3 to 18 2 with 110 w to 450 w of power output. Cdte thin film panels are made from several thin layers. Typically cdte pv cells use a n i p structure. The united states is the leader in cadmium telluride cdte photovoltaic pv manufacturing and nrel has been at the forefront of research and development in this area.

The benefits of cdte thin film solar cells include. It is usually sandwiched with cadmium sulfide to form a p n junction solar pv cell. New cadmium telluride solar panels are now available for applications on tall buildings in urban environments. Cadmium telluride cdte is the most commercially successful thin film photovoltaic technology.

Cadmium telluride pv is the only thin film technology with lower costs than conventional solar cells made of crystalline silicon in multi kilowatt systems. Cadmium telluride solar cells. Cadmium telluride cdte and copper indium gallium diselenide cigs.