Produce Technology of CdTe Thin Film Modules and Design of Manufacture Line

Cadmium telluride thin films solar cells and modules have demonstrated high performance and low cost. After the efficiency of CdTe thin film solar cell made in Sichuan University reached 13.38%, a task of translation from the laboratory to pilot production of the solar cells has begun by us. The structure of the cells is CdS/CdTe/ZnTe/ZnTe:Cu. The front electrode is SnO₂:F/HR-SnO ₂ films on soda-lime glass and the metal as back electrode is Ni. This paper introduces the main manufacture technologies of our CdTe thin film solar modules with 300 mmtimes400 mm, explains the designs of the key equipments for 0.3 MW/year pilot manufacture line. According to the produce technologies implemented with the equipments, we estimate the costs of materials and modules. The result is that the cost of 1 W _p CdTe PV module would be 1.8 dollar