Andreas Zimmermann of Sunplugged with flexible simpliCIS epitaxial solar cells, Source: © Ringhofer/Climate and Energy Fund

Andreas Zimmermann of Sunplugged with flexible simpliCIS epitaxial solar cells, Source: © Ringhofer/Climate and Energy Fund

simpliCIS – flexible epitaxial solar cells
for integrating into buildings, appliances and vehicles

These days PV modules almost always look just the same: silicon wafers shimmering bluish under glass on the roofs of houses or in large solar arrays. This kind of solar cell is not necessarily suitable for integrating into façade or roof elements or into appliance housings or vehicle shells, where you need flexible solar cells that can be adapted to special requirements, often in unconventional shapes or sizes, or with particular electrical target values.

In collaboration with business and research partners, the firm of Sunplugged – Solare Energie Systeme is currently developing a flexible PV foil that can be adapted as regards shape, size and electrical voltage. This revolutionary technology will make customized PV solutions for building shells and appliances feasible.

As part of the “simpliCIS2” project a completely new type of epitaxial solar module is to be manufactured; its geometrical and electrical specifications can be defined individually during the production process. These foil-like solar modules are highly adaptable as regards mechanical properties (flexibility, low profile), design (size and shape) and electrical voltage. The solar cells developed in this project are based on composite CIS semiconductors.

The acronym CIS or CIGS stands for an epitaxial solar module technology using various combinations of the elements copper, indium, gallium, sulphur and selenium in the absorber layer. The CIS/CIGS solar cells have considerable efficiency potential; in laboratory tests they achieve anything up to just over 20 %, comparable with polycrystaline silicon solar cells. The “simpliCIS2” solar cell contains no toxic substances, can be manufactured in an endless production process, and is suitable for a new form of printable circuitry, because of the foil structure.

With its combination of flexibility and low production cost,  the “simpliCIS2” solar module is not only of interest for generating electricity on façades and roofs, but can also be utilized as  a construction material for energy-efficient solar-powered terminal devices such as mobile phones and street lights or in vehicles.

TECHNOLOGY
Manufacturing the “simpliCIS” solar cell
The foil-like solar cell of unlimited length is manufactured roll-to-roll and cut to the right module length; the final shape and the module circuitry specified are defined in a machine specially developed for this purpose. A combination of short-pulsed lasers and precision screen-printing makes this entirely new technology of module circuitry.

Source: Sunplugged - Solare Energiesysteme GmbH
Source: Sunplugged – Solare Energiesysteme GmbH

 

  • Quelle: Klima- und Energiefonds / Ringhofer
    Quelle: Klima- und Energiefonds / Ringhofer
  • Quelle: Klima- und Energiefonds / Ringhofer
    Quelle: Klima- und Energiefonds / Ringhofer