FLAT-PLATE APPLICATIONS

THE FLAT-PLATE MODULE HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY APPROACH TO COMMERCIALIZATION OF NEAR-TERM PHOTOVOLTAICS. RESEARCH ON FLAT-PLATE TECHNOLOGY HAS FOCUSED ON REDUCTION OF COST-PER-WATT WITHOUT DUE REGARD FOR FINAL MODULE EFFICIENCY. IT IS NOW RECOGNIZED THAT TO BE COMMERCIALLY VIABLE IN U.S. ENERGY MARKETS, MODULES MUST BE OF THE VERY HIGHEST EFFICIENCY, OWING TO SIGNIFICANT BALANCE-OF-SYSTEM COSTS. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM COMPRISES A STUDY OF THE INTEGRATION OF VARIOUS HIGH EFFICIENCY PROCESSING STEPS, DEVELOPED FOR SPACE AND CONCENTRATOR APPLICATIONS, WITHIN A TERRESTRIAL CELL FABRICATION SEQUENCE. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH-EFFICIENCY FLAT-PLATECELL; THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS THE REDUCTION OF CELL COST. THROUGH SUCH CELL IMPROVEMENTS, MODULE PERFORMANCE CAN BE INCREASED. PHASE I CONSISTS OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE AN IMPROVED CELL DESIGN AND TO IDENTIFY ASPECTSOF CELL FABRICATION REQUIRING IN-DEPTH RESEARCH. THIS REQUIRES CELL FABRICATION DURING PHASE I. IN PHASE II, RESEARCH ON THOSE ASPECTS IDENTIFIED IN PHASE I WILL BE CARRIED OUT. THE OBJECTIVE OF PHASE II IS THE FABRICATION OF PROTOTYPE HIGH EFFICIENCY FLAT-PLATE CELLS. IN PHA III EQUIPMENT WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR CELL PRODUCTION WITH THE FINAL OBJECTIVE COMPRISING SALE OF THE PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT TO CELL MANUFACTURERS.