Ascent Solar's 5-meter CIGS based PV laminate

THORNTON, USA: Ascent Solar Technologies Inc., a developer of state-of-the-art, flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules, has manufactured a monolithically interconnected 5 meter long flexible light weight module on a polyimide substrate.

Ascent Solar Sr. Vice President for Production Operations Dr. Prem Nath stated: “This is the largest monolithically interconnected CIGS module on polyimide and may be the largest of any CIGS module regardless of construction. The size and efficiency of this module make it a breakthrough for the emerging opportunities of flexible CIGS photovoltaic modules.”

The CIGS based thin film material used in this module was manufactured using the company’s unique 1.5 MW roll-to-roll manufacturing line. The module was encapsulated during the testing and qualification of equipment that will be used for its 30 MW plant under construction.

Based on internal test and evaluation, this 5M long module weighs 2kg and produces 123W (under standard test conditions) with an aperture area efficiency of 9.1 percent. This length is a baseline for the company’s development of large area flexible building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products with our strategic BIPV partners.