Thin-film CdTe photovoltaics – The technology for utility scale sustainable energy generation
Thin-film CdTe photovoltaics – The technology for utility scale sustainable energy generation
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DOI：
10.1016/j.solener.2018.07.090
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发表时间：
2018-10
期刊：
影响因子：
6.7
通讯作者：
A. Munshi;Nikhil Sasidharan;Subin Pinkayan;K. Barth;W. Sampath;W. Ongsakul
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
A. Munshi;Nikhil Sasidharan;Subin Pinkayan;K. Barth;W. Sampath;W. Ongsakul
光伏发电是实现大规模发电的重要能源技术。在过去的几年里，光伏组件的制造和安装成本以及发电成本大幅下降，而产量却急剧增加。这些变化可以归因于太阳能电池效率的提高以及更好的制造实践。市场上有几种光伏技术，但用于大规模安装的两种主要商业生产技术是多晶薄膜碲化镉和晶体硅。晶体硅是最古老、应用最广泛的技术，而薄膜碲化镉是增长最快、LCOE（平准化能源成本）最低的技术。在本研究中，这两种技术的商用模块并排安装，以准确比较其性能。用于比较的模块以大致相同的铭牌容量安装在三种不同的配置中，即屋顶，水上和地面浮动。他们的表现被监测和分析了3 个月的时间。在泰国全年高温高湿的热带气候中，薄膜碲化镉在这三种条件下都比晶体硅表现出了巨大的优势。薄膜碲化镉的优势进一步得到了更大的经济、环境、可靠性和生命周期优势的支持，这些优势将在本研究的后半部分进行总结。
Photovoltaics is an important energy technology for large scale energy generation. In the past few years cost of photovoltaic module manufacturing and installation as well as electricity generation has substantially decreased while the production volume has seen a steep increase. These changes can be attributed to improvement in solar cell efficiencies as well as better manufacturing practices. There are several photovoltaic technologies available in the market but the two primary technologies commercially manufactured for large scale installations are polycrystalline thin-film CdTe and crystalline silicon. Crystalline Si is the oldest and the most widely installed technology while thin-film CdTe is the technology that has demonstrated the largest growth and lowest LCOE (levelized cost of energy). In this study, commercial modules from both these technologies are installed side by side for an accurate comparison of their performance. The modules for comparison are installed with the same approximate nameplate capacity in three different configurations viz. Roof-top, floating on water and ground. Their performance is monitored and analyzed over a 3 month period. Thin-film CdTe demonstrated substantial advantage under all three conditions over crystalline Si in Thailand's tropical climate which is characterized by high temperatures and humidity throughout the year. Advantage demonstrated by thin-film CdTe is further supported by greater economic, environmental, reliability and life-cycle advantages that are summarized in the later part of the study.