CuInSe₂-Based Thin-Film Photovoltaic Technology in the Gigawatt Production Era

The objective of this paper is to review current status and future prospect on CuInSe₂ (CIS)-based thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technology. In CIS-based thin-film PV technology, total-area cell efficiency in a small-area (i.e., smaller than 1 cm²) solar cell with top grids has been over 20%, while aperture-area efficiency in a large-area (i.e., larger than 800 cm² as definition) monolithic module is approaching to an 18% milestone. However, most of the companies with CIS-based thin-film PV technology still stay at a production research stage, except Solar Frontier K.K. In July, 2011, Solar Frontier has joined the gigawatt (GW) group by starting up their third facility with a 0.9-GW/year production capacity. They are keeping the closest position to pass a 16% module-efficiency border by transferring the developed technologies in the R&D and accelerating the preparation for the future based on the concept of a product life-cycle management.