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Released September 15, 2023 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Paul Wiseman for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Thin-film solar panels, while less efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, have a strong market in space and aerospace applications. While flat panels average 15-20% efficiency, the thin film variety has previously peaked at about 10.8%. For some applications, however, thin film's small size and light weight make it the only alternative. But thin-film developer and manufacturer Ascent Solar Technologies has announced a new formula that has reached 15.2% in tests.
Ascent attributes the increase to "the targeted optimization of the existing cadmium sulfide (Cd) deposition and manufacturing processes behind the company's CIGS (Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide) technology."
Thin-Film Panels in Space
While thin-film solar is a small part of the commercial market, comprising only about 10% of sales, its size and weight characteristics make it a key power source for satellites and other long-term space equipment--and that is Ascent's target market. Chief Executive Officer Paul Warley said, "For the foreseeable future, we will be targeting the space and aerospace markets." At some point, however, he anticipates "expanding sales into both new and existing markets and meeting the ever-increasing demand for solar power in targeted specialty applications."
The National Atmospheric and Space Administration (NASA) has regularly experimented with higher efficiencies for these photovoltaics (PVs). And because of environmental concerns regarding toxicity of the CIGS formula (which includes a buffer layer of cadmium sulfide, CdS, associated with breathing, liver and kidney function and other health issues), researchers including Ascent are seeking alternatives.
In the same press release announcing the greater efficiency for its CIGS design, the company noted its planning-stage development of a system that would replace CdS with zinc oxysulfide. For this mix, the company reported that preliminary efficiency measurements "indicate that yields are 5% to 8% higher than that of CdS, which would translate to a theoretical efficiency of 16% to 16.4%."
Other research also continues. In 2022, a team at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, did a study in which "the traditional cadmium sulfide buffer layer was replaced with a native buffer layer formed by oxidizing the surface of the Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 CIGSSe layer with an air-annealing process." Annealing is defined as a heat treatment that alters a material's physical and/or chemical properties to make it softer and more ductile.
In July of 2022, NASA was scheduled to launch the Psyche spacecraft on a 2.4 billion-kilometer mission to study a metal-rich asteroid. However, that mission has been postponed until October, 2023. After its launch, Psyche will deploy thin-film solar arrays as the sole power supply for its three-and-a-half year trip. Its target asteroid, also named Psyche, is between Mars and Jupiter. The solar arrays, in a cross shape, are about the size of a tennis court, NASA said.
Domestic Market
Although thin-film panels are less efficient than the standard variety, they are also less expensive and more adaptable to odd locations and small devices. Experiments have shown thin panels can boost the range of battery-powered drones in some applications, something a solid PV would be too large and heavy to accomplish. Thin-film panels are currently only a small part of the U.S. PV market, but with research continuing, that could change.
Overall, 51 new solar manufacturing facilities, amounting to $100 billion in private sector investments have been announced or expanded in the last year, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) in an August report. Much of this is attributable to the Inflation Reduction Act's renewable energy provisions and funding.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
Ascent attributes the increase to "the targeted optimization of the existing cadmium sulfide (Cd) deposition and manufacturing processes behind the company's CIGS (Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide) technology."
Thin-Film Panels in Space
While thin-film solar is a small part of the commercial market, comprising only about 10% of sales, its size and weight characteristics make it a key power source for satellites and other long-term space equipment--and that is Ascent's target market. Chief Executive Officer Paul Warley said, "For the foreseeable future, we will be targeting the space and aerospace markets." At some point, however, he anticipates "expanding sales into both new and existing markets and meeting the ever-increasing demand for solar power in targeted specialty applications."
The National Atmospheric and Space Administration (NASA) has regularly experimented with higher efficiencies for these photovoltaics (PVs). And because of environmental concerns regarding toxicity of the CIGS formula (which includes a buffer layer of cadmium sulfide, CdS, associated with breathing, liver and kidney function and other health issues), researchers including Ascent are seeking alternatives.
In the same press release announcing the greater efficiency for its CIGS design, the company noted its planning-stage development of a system that would replace CdS with zinc oxysulfide. For this mix, the company reported that preliminary efficiency measurements "indicate that yields are 5% to 8% higher than that of CdS, which would translate to a theoretical efficiency of 16% to 16.4%."
Other research also continues. In 2022, a team at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, did a study in which "the traditional cadmium sulfide buffer layer was replaced with a native buffer layer formed by oxidizing the surface of the Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 CIGSSe layer with an air-annealing process." Annealing is defined as a heat treatment that alters a material's physical and/or chemical properties to make it softer and more ductile.
In July of 2022, NASA was scheduled to launch the Psyche spacecraft on a 2.4 billion-kilometer mission to study a metal-rich asteroid. However, that mission has been postponed until October, 2023. After its launch, Psyche will deploy thin-film solar arrays as the sole power supply for its three-and-a-half year trip. Its target asteroid, also named Psyche, is between Mars and Jupiter. The solar arrays, in a cross shape, are about the size of a tennis court, NASA said.
Domestic Market
Although thin-film panels are less efficient than the standard variety, they are also less expensive and more adaptable to odd locations and small devices. Experiments have shown thin panels can boost the range of battery-powered drones in some applications, something a solid PV would be too large and heavy to accomplish. Thin-film panels are currently only a small part of the U.S. PV market, but with research continuing, that could change.
Overall, 51 new solar manufacturing facilities, amounting to $100 billion in private sector investments have been announced or expanded in the last year, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) in an August report. Much of this is attributable to the Inflation Reduction Act's renewable energy provisions and funding.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
