50 MW Photovoltaic Factory Designs And Economics Using Semicrystalline Silicon

With the projected growth of the PV market in the 1990s, the present shortfall of solar cell materials is expected to continue until large-scale factories are implemented. Thin, efficient semicrystalline silicon solar calls whose wafer is produced by the Direct-Cast method can be manufactured at under $1/watt in the module. Fully automated factory processes with CIM will provide for minimal intervention and high yields. By 1995 average cell efficiencies of 15-16% are expected, and with rapid growth in the consumer PV markets a greater distribution of the factory output can be utilized. Plans for such a factory and economics are given.