Technology
What is CIGS

 

"CIGS" is a descriptive abbreviation for Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide, a thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar cell. CIGS has several characteristics that make it a valuable PV material.

 

 

  • One, is CIGS's absorption coefficient, which is among the highest for semiconductor materials used to make solar cells. Ninety-nine percent of the light incident on a CIGS based solar cell is absorbed in the first micrometer of the device. This provides the opportunity to produce thinner films and to reduce material costs.

  • Next, CIGS films retain their performance properties better and do not degrade as rapidly as other thin-films such as CdTe and A-Si used for PV. Since solar modules will be required to operate for many tens of years this benefit allows CIGS solar modules to produce power closer to their original performance potential well into the future.

  • Thirdly, CIGS is also amenable to automated production techniques. Today, thin-films enjoy low production costs that stem from combining automated production processes with low material costs. Unfortunately, today's thin-film PV offerings also offer low conversion efficiencies when compared to silicon PV technologies. CIGS offers a viable opportunity to utilize automated manufacturing techniques while not sacrificing PV conversion potential.

  • And lastly, thin film solar cells made from Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS) absorbers show great promise in achieving the highest thin-film conversion efficiencies approaching 20% and more. CIGS currently holds the world record for thin-film conversion efficiency at 19.9%. This may make CIGS one of the only truly viable thin-film candidates to compete with silicon.