Thin film photovoltaic modules or panels consist of layers of semiconductor materials like amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, or copper indium gallium selenide. These photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are designed to harness solar energy efficiently. They are considered the future of the solar industry as they are economical and require less material, thus generating less waste. They are easily manufactured but are free from toxic components.
Out of the three types of solar panels, thin-film modules have the least longevity, with a lifespan ranging from 10 to 20 years. On the contrary, in comparison to them, thin-film modules have the fastest payback time.
Types of Thin-Film Solar Cells
Generally, solar thin film modules are of 3 types:
- Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) thin-film
- Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin-film
- Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS)
What do They Look Like?
Thin-film solar cells are easily recognizable for their thin appearance, but the following are their other notable traits.
- The panels are incredibly thin, with each layer measuring just 1 micron in thickness, making them thinner than human hair.
- The solar module is not just 1 micron thick. In fact, each solar system is composed of multiple layers of thin film.
- Solar thin-film panels are about 350 times thinner than mono or polycrystalline panels, but the overall thickness of thin-film panels can still be similar to that of silicon-based panels.
- The flexibility and light weight of these panels make them ideal for use in portable devices.
- PV Thin-Film can be either black or blue hues, which is determined by the type of PV material employed for their production.
Also See: What is Polycrystalline Silicon?
How Efficient are Thin Film Photovoltaic Modules?
The power capacities of thin-film solar panels are less, so they are less efficient compared to mono and polycrystalline solar cell types.
The efficiency of the thin-film system varies depending on the type of PV material utilized in the cells. However, generally, they exhibit efficiencies ranging from 7% to as high as 18%.
While thin-film cells may have lower efficiency compared to crystalline cells, it should be emphasized that thin-film technology actually possesses a higher theoretical efficiency than silicon.