Cigs Thin Film Solar Panels

A copper indium gallium selenide solar cell or cigs cell sometimes ci g s or cis cell is a thin film solar cell used to convert sunlight into electric power.

Cigs thin film solar panels.

A thin film solar cell is a second generation solar cell that is made by depositing one or more thin layers or thin film tf of photovoltaic material on a substrate such as glass plastic or metal. Cigs already featuring a solid 16 5 production module efficiency can be combined with other solar cells to enable efficiency. Cigs does not use the previously named element of silicon. Ascent solar develops and manufactures its cutting edge cigs copper indium gallium selenide photovoltaic technology on a flexible plastic substrate.

Cigs panels have shown potential in laboratory testing for. With efficiencies exceeding 20 measured in the laboratory there may be a continuing place for high efficiency cigs panels in the general solar panel market. Thin film solar cells are commercially used in several technologies including cadmium telluride cdte copper indium gallium diselenide cigs and amorphous thin film silicon a si tf si. Cigs is a thin film technology but it is important that it is not confused with another thin film solar that is mostly silicon based.

Because the material has a high absorption coefficient. Gse manufactures copper indium gallium diselenide cigs by using state of the art controlled co evaporation and the thinnest stainless steel substrate possible to create flexible and light weight thin film pv products for use in any application. Thin film solar panels made with a copper indium gallium selenide substrate contain less toxic cadmium than cdte cells. Copper indium gallium selenide cigs.

Thin film solar panels are completely different from monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. It is manufactured by depositing a thin layer of copper indium gallium and selenium on glass or plastic backing along with electrodes on the front and back to collect current. The innovative solar cell is based on the highest efficiency thin film technology available today and its flexible cell architecture makes it ideal for a wide variety of solutions ranging from commercial roofing solar panels to portable mobile devices. Cigs cells also use the toxic chemical cadmium.

The manufacturing of these solar panels began in germany during 2011 but they are now also made in the united states and china. Copper indium gallium deselenide and these are the 4 elements in certain mixing ratios that are the active substance in cigs. Miasolé is a producer of lightweight flexible and powerful solar cells and cell manufacturing equipment. Usually thin film solar panels are lightweight and flexible making them easy to install.

Unlike most thin film solar technologies cigs solar panels offer a potentially competitive efficiency to traditional silicon panels.