LIGHTWEIGHT, FLEXIBLE, MONOLITHIC ON CONTINOUS POLYMER SUBSTRATES THIN-FILM AMORPHOUS SILICAN MODULES

Abstract

Iowa Thin Film Technologies, Inc. (ITFT) has developed, in co operation with Iowa State University (ISU) and the State of Iowa, a lightweight, flexible, monolithic thin-Film amorphous silicon module for electrical power generation. The solar modules are made using a roll-to-roll manufacturing process. The polyimide web substrate is 2 mils (0.05 mm) thick, 13 inches (33 cm) wide, and up to 2400 feet (732 m) long. The automated module manufacturing equipment can custom fabricate solar modules of a specified voltage and current for a given module area, using a method of monolithic creation and interconnection of solar cells on the substrate. Typical performance is five watts peak power per ft² (0.094 m²) of module in bright sunlight.