Encyclopedia of Alternative and Renewable Energy: Volume 24 (Thin Film Solar Cells)

This book discusses the benefits and challenges of utilizing thin film solar cells as an alternative energy source. The field of photovoltaics has seen a large-scale manufacturing of the second genesis of thin film solar modules and has succeeded in constructing powerful solar plants in many countries across the globe. Thin film techniques using direct-gap semiconductors such as CIGS and CdTe pose minimum manufacturing costs and are now increasing in popularity amongst industries. This has led to an increase in the manufacturability of thin film solar modules as compared to wafer or ribbon Si modules. Thin films like CIGS and CdTe will soon take over wafer-based silicon solar cells as the superior photovoltaic technology. This book elucidates the scientific and technological difficulties of increasing the photoelectric efficiency of thin film solar cells. It covers various aspects of thin film solar cells varying from photovoltaics as mainstream power engineering to low cost solar cell based on cuprous oxides to application of electron beam treatment. This book will be beneficial for readers interested in this subject.