Low-Cost CdTe/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells

• Published in: IEEE journal of photovoltaics Vol. 7; no. 6; pp. 1767 - 1772
• Main Authors: Tamboli, Adele C., Bobela, David C., Kanevce, Ana, Remo, Timothy, Alberi, Kirstin, Woodhouse, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Piscataway IEEE 01.11.2017; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Cadmium compounds; Cadmium tellurides; Cost analysis; Efficiency; Electricity pricing; Microprocessors; Modules; Performance evaluation; Photonic band gap; Photovoltaic cells; Silicon; single-junction; Solar cells; SOLAR ENERGY
• ISSN: 2156-3381; 2156-3403
• DOI: 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2017.2737361

Achieving higher photovoltaic efficiency in single-junction devices is becoming increasingly difficult, but tandem modules offer the possibility of significant efficiency improvements. Device modeling shows that four-terminal CdTe/Si tandem solar modules offer the prospect of 25%-30% module efficiency, and technoeconomic analysis predicts that these efficiency gains can be realized at costs per Watt that are competitive with CdTe and Si single junction alternatives. The cost per Watt of the modeled tandems is lower than crystalline silicon, but slightly higher than CdTe alone. However, these higher power modules reduce area-related balance of system costs, providing increased value especially in area-constrained applications. This avenue for high-efficiency photovoltaics enables improved performance on a near-term timeframe, as well as a path to further reduced levelized cost of electricity as module and cell processes continue to advance.