Semi-Transparent Solar Cells and Modules on Inexpensive Plastic Substrates

We report on our recent progress on semitransparent amorphous silicon (a-Si:H)-based solar cells which were deposited on inexpensive plastic substrates at deposition temperature < 150°C. An efficiency of ~ 3% has been achieved with a transmission > 40% on a large area, series connected panel. We are in the process of developing laser scribing techniques and a reel-to-reel cassette cluster tool system for mass production which should result in a competitive product in the market of Building Integrated Photovoltaics