Solar Photovoltaic
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity by solid-state semi-conductor diodes called photovoltaic cells. Silicon is the most common semi-conducting material used to make photovoltaic cells.
A single photovoltaic cell produces only a few watts, so solar photovoltaic modules are comprised of several photovoltaic cells laminated into a single unit. The voltage of the photovoltaic module depends on the number of cells connected in series, and the current is proportional to the surface area of the photovoltaic cells.
The most common solar module technology uses 200 to 300 mm thick wafers of
crystalline silicon (c-Si) or multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si), similar to the wafers used to manufacture integrated circuits. The manufacturing process for crystalline silicon solar modules consists of several steps including manufacture and testing of the cells, electrical interconnection of the cells and laminating them into a complete module.
Amorphous silicon (a-Si) is another photovoltaic technology that is gaining broad
acceptance. Amorphous silicon is less efficient than crystalline technologies, but it has the advantage of using much less silicon. Amorphous silicon cells are deposited on a substrate such as glass or steel and are only 2 or 3 mm thick. Thin film technologies such as amorphous silicon hold the potential for low cost mass-produced solar modules. Other thin film technologies have been commercialized for outdoor terrestrial applications in the past few years. These photovoltaic modules use semi-conductors such as Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) and Copper Indium Diselenide(CIS). These technologies promise greater efficiencies than amorphous silicon but are still in the early stages of commercialization. [1]
Industry practice is to rate photovoltaic modules at Standard Test Conditions (STC). Thepower rating obtained at STC, is often referred to as the peak power of the module and is measured in peak watts (Wpeak). This rating is useful for comparing one module to another, but does not reflect the actual performance of a photovoltaic module in the field.
A single photovoltaic cell produces only a few watts, so solar photovoltaic modules are comprised of several photovoltaic cells laminated into a single unit. The voltage of the photovoltaic module depends on the number of cells connected in series, and the current is proportional to the surface area of the photovoltaic cells.
The most common solar module technology uses 200 to 300 mm thick wafers of
crystalline silicon (c-Si) or multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si), similar to the wafers used to manufacture integrated circuits. The manufacturing process for crystalline silicon solar modules consists of several steps including manufacture and testing of the cells, electrical interconnection of the cells and laminating them into a complete module.
Amorphous silicon (a-Si) is another photovoltaic technology that is gaining broad
acceptance. Amorphous silicon is less efficient than crystalline technologies, but it has the advantage of using much less silicon. Amorphous silicon cells are deposited on a substrate such as glass or steel and are only 2 or 3 mm thick. Thin film technologies such as amorphous silicon hold the potential for low cost mass-produced solar modules. Other thin film technologies have been commercialized for outdoor terrestrial applications in the past few years. These photovoltaic modules use semi-conductors such as Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) and Copper Indium Diselenide(CIS). These technologies promise greater efficiencies than amorphous silicon but are still in the early stages of commercialization. [1]
Industry practice is to rate photovoltaic modules at Standard Test Conditions (STC). Thepower rating obtained at STC, is often referred to as the peak power of the module and is measured in peak watts (Wpeak). This rating is useful for comparing one module to another, but does not reflect the actual performance of a photovoltaic module in the field.
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