Solar niche markets, widening your scope

Crystalline silicon’s (c-Si) slimmer cousin, thin-film is exempt from the 30% solar panel tariff. This is because the U.S. government found imported c-Si modules were harm to domestic panel manufacturing. C-Si holds between 90 and 95% of the global production market share. Thin-film panel manufacturer is exempt from the tariffs, thus expanding its Vietnam manufacturing plant to build a new 1.2-GW facility in the U.S. to fulfill utility-scale demand. The expected 500 U.S. jobs will aide with production of the Series 6 module. 
 

Thin-film solar types 

A thin-film solar panel is made of thin films of semiconductors deposited on glass, plastic or metal. The films are thin, about 20 times thinner than c-Si wafers, making them  flexible and lightweight. There are three thin-film divisions: amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) or gallium-free CIS.

a-Si is the oldest thin-film technology applying chemical vapor deposition to place a thin layer of silicon onto the glass, plastic or metal base. It is nontoxic, absorbs a wide range of the light spectrum and performs well in low light but loses efficiency quickly. The highest efficiency on record for a-Si is 13.6%.

CdTe is the most common thin-film solar technology because of its utility-scale dominance. In 2016, a CdTe world-record cell efficiency of 22.1%, although its modules average 17%. The Series 6 module develop 420 W, and its smaller Series 4 modules peaked at about 100 W. 

CIS and CIGS modules develop co-evaporation or co-deposition. Copper, indium, selenide and (sometimes) gallium are deposited onto the substrate at different temperatures to mix together.

A typical 60-cell c-Si module averages a power output between 250 and 350 W with an efficiency more near 18 or 19%, with high-efficiency brands performing even better. You’d need more thin-film modules and more area to produce the same power as a smaller group of c-Si. Crystalline silicon modules are consistently dependable for the majority of solar markets. This is why they are the dominant panel choice.
 

What the market brings 

No single thin-film brand appears to be making a grab for c-Si’s market share in the United States. Most CIGS and CIS manufacturers market themselves as niche products. Project where silicon can’t go into, can’t be penetration on rooftops, transportation, marine and modular/tiny home applications. Thin-film’s shading resistance is its strongest suit for the residential market. There’s success with its CIS thin-film. If a homeowner has a roof with no obtrusions and shade, c-Si actually produces more energy with fewer panels. 
 

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