Photovoltaic
Current Photovoltaic technology development efforts are focused on 2 practical methods.
Photovoltaic module systems:
The majority of modules use wafer-based Crystalline silicon. Photovoltaic modules provides the fastest path to increased solar efficiency .
Lotus Energy Group invests in Photovoltaic module efficiency because it supports our customers current needs.
Thin film technology:
Thin Film are various technologies that have been underdevelopment for the past 15 to 20 years that utilize very small amounts of specialized materials to create solar panels that have the potential to produce power significantly cheaper than today’s standard silicon technology. The panels are usually made in the form of a monolithic piece of glass, upon which various thin films are deposited, although a number of firms are working on depositing the materials on a flexible substrate, such as stainless steel or plastic.
Types of Thin Film Technology
There are primarily three types of thin film technologies that have each been researched for over 15 years and are current focus of the solar industry:
1.Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)
2.Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)
3.Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS)
Amorphous Silicon had the largest share of the thin film market as of the end of 2012. It has been researched for the longest period of time, may be the best understood material of the three and has been commercial for the longest. Cadmium Telluride has the remaining share of the market and is ramping up very rapidly, with Copper Indium Gallium Selenide having a negligible share of the thin film market, with great potential, but is the least understood and least developed of the three materials.
Why Lotus Energy Groupis investing in Thin film technologies
-Lower cost of production than other photovoltaic products.
-Lower production facility cost per watt.
-Uses far less material, as little as 1/500 the amount used in standard silicon cells.
-Lower energy payback amount of time until the product produces more energy than was utilized in its manufacture.
-Produces more useable power per rated watt.
-Superior performance in hot and overcast climates.
-Ability to be attractively integrated into buildings.
-Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).
-Produces the lowest cost power.
