The sunrise concept: an alternative manufacturing method for thin film solar cells

Volker Geyer, Scheuten Research

In order to manufacture large area thin film solar modules based on copper indium disulfide / copper indium diselenide, the photovoltaic thin film material is usually deposited on float glass. In this case the maximum module size is depending on the size of the float glass used as well as on the dimensions of the machinery used for deposition of the thin film.

By using small glass beads as a substrate for the thin film, we can overcome the restrictions of the float glass approach and are able to separate the module size from the reactor dimensions necessary to deposit the photovoltaic material. In this paper we would like to introduce the principal manufacturing steps for such a solar cell and module and discuss the advantages and challenges of this approach in comparison to that of a flat substrate process.

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The Authors

Mr. Volker Geyer Manager R&D Scheuten 1994 - 1999 VEGLA / Saint Gobain Aachen Product development Insulating glass since 1999 Scheuten since 1999 Project leader thin film photvoltaic since 2001 Manager R&D Scheuten degrees: - Dipl... Read more