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 What are Thin Film Photovoltaics? 

Without a doubt, the most exciting technology in the solar power industry is "ThinFilm Photovoltaics." Thin Film Photovoltaics technology represents the next bigthing in renewable energy and solar power as it integrates nanotechnologies into the

production of solar photovoltaics.

According to the Department of Energy, the recent technological advances in thinfilm photovoltaics make this a very exciting time to be in the solar energyindustry. These advances have led to many new developments in the componentsand manufacturing of thin film photovoltaics. This has made thin film photovoltaics cheaper to manufacture as they are also now easier to install since they are extremelyversatile, flexible, bendable, and much lighter. 

Thin film photovoltaics have led many to believe that as much as 50% of our nation's

future power will be generated by "power buildings" that integrate "buildingintegrated photovoltaics" or "BIPV" into the building's skin or exterior surfaces, thatconvert sunlight into "pollution free power" for use in the building. This alsodesignates these buildings (and homes) as "Net Zero Energy Buildings" and makethe option for going grid-free, or not connecting to the grid, a real possibility. 

According to the Department of Energy, the market potential for printed electronicswill grow into a $47 billion market by 2018. Thin film photovoltaics represents asignificant portion of this market - and based on this heavily researched solartechnology, thin film photovoltaics now represents a $20 billion/year industry in theU.S. 

The solar PV panels produced under the thin film photovoltaics umbrella have thepotential to produce power significantly cheaper power than today·s typical silicon-based PV panels. The panels are usually made in the form of a monolithic piece ofglass, upon which various thin films are deposited, although a number of firms areworking on depositing the materials on a substrate, such as stainless steel or plastic. 

Types of Thin Film Photovoltaics ² there are primarily three types of thin filmphotovoltaics and include: 

1.  Amorphous Silicon 

2.  Cadmium Telluride 3.  Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide 

Amorphous Silicon had the largest share of the thin film photovoltaics marketthrough 2006. It has been researched for the longest period of time, may be the bestunderstood material of the three and has been commercial for the longest.

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Cadmium Telluride, a very toxic chemical and has the remaining share and isgrowing.

y  Lower cost of production of they  Lower production facility cost per watt - CapEx y  Uses as little as 1/500 of the amount used in standard silicon cells y  Lower energy payback ² amount of time until the product produces more

energy than was utilized in its manufacture. y  Produces more power/watt y  Superior performance in hot and cloudy climates y  Integrates seemlessly in homes and buildings ² see Building Integrated

Photovoltaics y  Produces the lowest cost power