Thin-Film.
The cell is made by depositing one or more thin layers of PV material on a supporting material such as glass, plastic, or metal.
Thin-film solar panels are typically made with one of the following four technologies:
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Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) – The most widely used thin-film technology, CdTe holds roughly 50% of the market share for thin-film solar panels. CdTe contains significant amounts of Cadmium – an element with relative toxicity – so this is a factor of consideration. First Solar is the top innovator and seller in this space.
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Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) – The second most popular thin-film option after CdTe, a-Si is the most similar technology to that of a standard silicon wafer panel. a-Si is a much better option than its counterparts (CdTe, CIGS) in terms of toxicity and durability, but it is less efficient and is typically used for small load requirements like consumer electronics. The quest for scale is always a hindrance for a-Si.
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Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) – Laboratory CIGS cells have reached efficiency highs of 22.4%. However, these performance metrics are not yet possible at scale. The primary manufacturer of CIGS cells was Solyndra (which went bankrupt in 2011). Today, the leader is Solar Frontier. MiaSolĂ© also manufactures CIGS panels in the U.S. and China.
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Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) – A very expensive technology, GaAs holds a world record 28.9% efficiency for all single-junction solar cells. GaAs is primarily used on spacecrafts and is meant for versatile, mass-scale installments of PV energy in unusual environments.
It is used in building-integrated photovoltaics and as semi-transparent, photovoltaic glazing material that can be laminated onto windows.
Thin film solar panels are the cheapest, but have the lowest efficiency rating and require a lot of space to meet your energy needs
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