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What are thin-film solar panels made of?

In contrast, the manufacture of thin-film solar panels involves coating a base material (known as a substrate) with a thin layer of photovoltaic material, such as amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). The substrate is usually made from glass, metal or plastic.

Do thin-film solar panels make a difference?

This means that you shouldn’t be getting thin-film solar panels to make a difference to your energy bills, as their output will never match up to what a traditional crystalline silicon solar panel system can produce. Instead, thin-film solar panels are only really suitable for people on the move.

How do thin-film solar panels work?

Thin-film solar panels work by capturing sunlight and converting it into electricity, just like any other PV panel. The key difference lies in their thickness - thin-film solar panels are typically around 2-3 millimetres thick, whereas a traditional crystalline silicon solar panel is about 30-50 millimetres thick.

How are CIGS thin-film solar panels made?

Manufacturing for Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar panels has improved throughout history. Currently, CIGS thin-film solar cells are manufactured by placing a molybdenum (Mo) electrode layer over the substrate through a sputtering process. The substrate is usually manufactured with polyimide or a metal foil.

Where can I buy thin-film solar panels in the UK?

You can buy thin-film solar panels in the UK, but as they’re not as common as standard solar panels, you should expect the process of finding an installer to take longer. Here are a few companies that provide thin-film solar panels. Midsummer Energy sells a range of thin-film solar panels, from 70 watts up to 500 watts.

Who invented thin-film solar panels?

The idea for thin-film solar panels came from Prof. Karl Böer in 1970, who recognized the potential of coupling thin-film photovoltaic cells with thermal collectors, but it was not until 1972 that research for this technology officially started.

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