Introduction to laser structuring
A bright future lies ahead for thin-film solar modules. By 2010 their market share went from 5% (2004) to about 18% and is expected to soon even grow to 30 %.
A special success factor here is the laser based equipment- and system technology for structuring thin-film solar modules. With a high innovative level it keeps reaching higher and higher quality levels, ensuring increasing profitability of thin-film solar technology.
Fundamentals of laser structuring thin-film solar cells
Thin-film solar modules
Thin-film solar modules offer a number of advantages over crystalline wafer-based modules in production as well as in applying the module to generate electricity. For instance we were able to apply cost reduction experience from large-scale TFT display mass-production to manufacturing thin-film solar modules.
In addition only minimal layer thicknesses in the micrometer range are used to achieve significant reductions in the use of material. In daily use despite being less efficient thin-film modules convince in direct comparison with crystalline modules due to a lower electricity production costs based on their good low light properties, their higher temperature coefficient and its insensitiveness to the sun’s angle of incidence.
