Low Cost Solution Processed CIGS Solar Cells

在过去的15年里，光伏（PV）模块市场以35%的年复合增长率增长，到2014年将超过50GW。这一惊人增长背后的驱动因素包括化石燃料成本上升、对能源供应安全的担忧以及对气候变化的担忧。世界各地的政府机构，包括英国的DECC，都在通过激励措施鼓励光伏的部署。然而，随着光伏成本的降低，许多重要地区现在都实现了“电网平价”，这就消除了补贴的需要。在这一点上，光伏市场预计将飙升。该项目将开发一种新的解决方案，利用纳米颗粒前体加工薄膜光伏（PV）装置，这为生产光伏组件提供了一种更便宜的途径。该项目的目标是整合项目合作伙伴开发的技术，以提高小面积太阳能电池的效率，然后将技术扩展到迷你模块尺寸，同时保持对降低工艺成本的关注。还将评估该技术在柔性基板上的应用。组件的低成本加工将为CIGS纳米颗粒油墨带来利润丰厚的业务，并使太阳能部署得到更大的增长。

The market for photovoltaic (PV) modules has grown at 35 % p.a. compound over the past 15 years and will exceed 50GW in 2014. The drivers behind this extraordinary growth include the rising cost of fossil fuels, concerns over security ofenergy supplies and worries over climate change. Governments agencies world wide, including the DECC in the UK, areencouraging the deployment of PV through incentives. However as the cost of PV reduces many important regions are nowat "grid parity" which removes the need for subsidies. At this point the market for PV is expected to rocket. This project willdevelop a new solution processed thin film photovoltaic (PV) device from a nanoparticle precursor, which offers a cheaperroute to producing PV modules. The aim of the project will be to integrate technologies developed by the project partners,to improve the efficiency of small area solar cells, then to scale the technology to mini-module dimensions, whilemaintaining a focus on reducing the cost of the process. The application of the technology to flexible substrates will also beassessed. Lower cost processing of modules will develop a lucrative business for CIGS nanoparticle inks and evengreater growth of solar energy deployment.