Pilot line production of CIGS modules: first experiences in processing and further developments

In order to advance the Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ (CIGS) thin-film technology to mass production maturity, ZSW and Wuerth Solar are running two lines: Wuerth Solar's pilot production line for 0.7 m/sup 2/ modules gives experience in industrial processing and the ZSW line for 0.09 m/sup 2/ modules is flexible enough to test new materials and processes. Baseline processes regularly produce CIGS thin-film modules with over 74 W/sub p/. Failure mechanisms like local shunts and ohmic losses are investigated by thermographic imaging. New process variations (atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD) Cd-free buffers, reactively sputtered ZnO:Al) already result in module efficiencies >10% in the ZSW line.