The Future of Amorphous Silicon Photovoltaic Technology

Amorphous silicon modules are commercially available. They are the first truly commercial thin‐film photovoltaic (PV) devices. Well‐defined production processes over very large areas (> 1 m 2 ) have been implemented. There are few environmental issues during manufacturing, deployment in the field or with the eventual disposal of the modules. Manufacturing safety issues are well characterized and controllable. The highest measured initial efficiency to date is 13.7% for a small triple‐stacked cell and the highest stabilized module efficiency is 10%, There is a consensus among researchers that in order to achieve a 15% stabilized efficiency, a triple‐junction amorphous silicon structure is required. Fundamental improvements in alloys are needed for higher efficiencies. This is being pursued through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory/US Department of Energy (NREL/DOE) Thin‐Film Partnership Program. Cost reductions through improved manufacturing processes are being pursued under the NREL/DOE‐sponsored research in manufacturing technology (PVMaT). Much of the work in designing a‐Si devices is a result of trying to compensate for the Staebler‐Wronski effect. Some new deposition techniques hold promise because they have produced materials with lower stabilized defect densities. However, none has yet produced a high‐efficiency device and shown it to be more stable than those from standard glow discharge‐deposited material.