Another way to reduce the cost of photovoltaics is to make solar cells from less expensive materials. Crystalline silicon is used in about 80 percent of the solar cell modules produced today, Rohatgi says. The other 20 percent are made from amorphous silicon and thin film materials like cadmium telluride. Today and Tomorrow Rohatgi attributes part of UCEP's success to close working relationships with more than two dozen U.S. solar manufacturers, including industry leaders like Solarex Corp., Siemens Solar Industries and ASE America Inc. photo by Gary Meek Research done at Georgia Tech could help lower the cost of producing photovoltaic arrays. So far, UCEP is having no trouble meeting that mandate.
Researchers hold patents for seven production techniques and have applied for several others.
Besides reducing solar costs and improving technologies, Rohatgi says future successes also will depend on transferring these new techniques from the laboratory to the production line. Only then will industry get excited about it and be able to use it. Further information is available from Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0250.