The producers of photovoltaic modules with thin layers lower their production costs and become more competitive

THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BY ON MARCH 29, 2009 

POSTED UNDER: ENERGY

The production of electricity from photovoltaic (PV) could compete with conventional power plants earlier than expected: for the first time, the production costs of the American company First Solar, which produces thin-film cells in telluride Cadmium (CdTe), have fallen below a dollar per watt ($ 0.98 / W). The success of the U.S. serves as a landmark reference in terms of competitiveness by PV solar electricity. Until now, PV technologyis not competitive vis-à-vis conventional energy sources, because its production was too expensive, particularly because of the cost of silicon (Si), a material that generates electricity in the current PV cells. Experts were expecting the "parity network"  in Germany for 2015 at the earliest. Thanks to recent progress, this parity network seems to be in time, according to Holger Krawinkel, energy expert at the Federation of Central consumers . According to him, "the First Solar modules could already produce electricity for an equivalent of 0.20 to 0.25 euros per kilowatt hour." But the current price of electricity in Germany currently around 0.20 euros / kWh.According to the company's CEO, Mike Ahern, First Solar has reduced production costs due to a rapid increase in production and a better product and process. "Our production has increased by 5000% between 2005 and today to reach 1000 MW. At the same time, the demand for materials has decreased and the performance of the modules has increased. First Solar is one of the few producers of thin film cells on an industrial scale. The company replaced the Si layer by a hundred times smaller made of a semiconductor CdTe. It captures many photons, such as Si, but its production is less expensive while technology crystalline silicon blocks are first sliced, then worked in several stages to provide solar cells, First Solar files directly to the semiconductor from a few micrometers thick on the glass. A disadvantage of thin film modules is their relatively low yield (11%) are less efficient than crystalline silicon modules, which convert about 15% of light into electricity. In addition, CdTe PV cells need a surface larger than the crystalline Si cells to produce the same amount of electricity. High prices offset installation and negative, in part the low cost of production. However, along with First Solar, increasing competition and other companies engaged in the production of PV modules with thin layers: - The U.S. AVA Solar has invested $ 150 million in a new facility, which should begin in April 2009 the production of CdTe modules. AVA Solar will soon be in production costs below $ 1 / W. - Berlin Inventux The company pursues the same objective. It happened since late 2008 modules if said "micromorphe. The technique is a further development panels to thin film cells marketable, made from simple amorphous Si. With the help of an additional absorber microcrystalline Si deposited on the amorphous layer, the producer has improved the electrical efficiency of more than 8%. The savings will be, above all, due to economies of scale associated with increased production. The company doubled the capacity of its facility in Berlin from 33 MW in the next 2 years. - The U.S. company Nanosolar has developed a production process that prints on a film of tiny nanoparticles of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) and possibly sulfur. The producers want to reduce costs only 0.30 to 0.35 dollars with their innovative method of printing. The plants are ready to start series production. In a 430 MW plant in San Jose, California, Nanosolar producing cells to be transformed into modules Luckenwalde near Berlin. Despite growing competition, First Solar is confident in its position as market leader. "With expansion coming, we want to reduce costs 0.65 to $ 0.70 / W by 2012," said the businessman Ahern. According to experts, the techniques for thin film PV will win many shares in the coming years thanks to their high potential for development. However, the effectiveness and costs of silicon solar cells are still capable of improvement.