Thin-film (CIS) photovoltaics: a consortium approach to technology development and manufacturing

Based on the various laboratory experiments, polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaics such as copper indium diselenide (CIS)-based alloys have exhibited device efficiencies higher than 16·0% as well as the potential for low production costs of $1·00 W−1 for the monolithically integrated modules. However, these potentials have not been realized during large-scale production due to complex manufacturing operations. Global Solar Energy (GSE) has been successful in developing a large-scale manufacturing process for CIS modules that incorporates intelligent processing. One of the main factors in GSE's success is the use of a ‘consortium approach’ to bring together a group of companies and universities with the necessary expertise to develop the complex CIS technologies. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.