Amelio Launches New Thin-film Module | Renewable Energy News Article

Munich, Germany [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] Amelio Solar Inc., a developer of thin-film photovoltaic technologies has launched its PV Duo tandem PV module. Combining a thin-film amorphous silicon (a-Si) and a thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) cell into one integrated module, the company claims it is the most efficient thin-film photovoltaic module technology, with demonstrated efficiency as high as 13%.

Based on glass-to-glass encapsulated thin-film modules, the PV Duo consists of a glass plate to which are applied the layers of material comprising the thin-film photovoltaic device.

Unlike a-Si and CIGS, however, which have a second glass plate that serves as a blank, protective back cover laminated to the photovoltaic glass plate, the PV Duo utilizes the surface area of the second glass plate to create a second photovoltaic device. This is initially CIGS-based and is laminated to the first photovoltaic glass plate, initially a-Si-based, resulting in an a-Si/CIGS four terminal tandem module.

“I, and other members of our technical team, have been involved in the development of virtually every thin-film technology from the 1960's onward. The PV Duo is the pinnacle of this work, a combination of the best technologies to deliver a higher-efficiency thin-film product without the dangers of cadmium," said Dr. Zoltan Kiss, founder of Amelio Solar.