Scaling up issues of CIGS solar cells

Thin film solar modules based on Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGS) have a very high potential to reduce production costs for photovoltaic modules. The challenge is to combine the large area issues with high throughput and yield with the high quality of the device. ZSW has developed inline processes for almost all process steps for glass/glass modules and reaches a 12.7% efficiency level with high yield for 30 x 30 cm CIGS modules. A 30 x 30 cm Cd-free module with nearly 10% efficiency is realised after a short time of development. The modules are very stable in the damp/heat test. These results qualify the process to start the next scaling up step. With Solar GmbH Br Co. KG. a joint venture of ZSW, Wurth group, and EnBW AGI was founded to commercialise CIGS technology and PV products. A cost estimation will be given, which considers the sensitivity of the relevant input parameters. With medium risk assumptions the manufacturing costs of CIGS modules for a 60 MWp/a capacity are about 0.6 Euro/Wp. (C) 2000 Elsevier science S.A. All rights reserved.