Flexible and lightweight monolithic Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ photovoltaic minimodule achieving 18.83% efficiency

A flexible Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) photovoltaic minimodule—comprising 17 interconnected solar cells over a designated area of 67.94 cm²—achieved an independently certified power conversion efficiency of 18.83%, setting a new benchmark among flexible non-glass-substrate chalcogenide photovoltaic minimodules. Simultaneously achieving a high open-circuit voltage (VOC) and fill factor (FF) has long been a challenge in flexible CIGS minimodules; however, this device overcomes the typical trade-off, exhibiting a high VOC exceeding 0.77 V per cell and an FF above 75%. These results demonstrate the potential of chalcogenide thin-film technology to expand photovoltaic applications beyond conventional rigid glass modules.