Classification: Internal Use

Pros & Cons of CIGS thin-film solar panels

Pros
High conversion efficiency
The record-high conversion efficiency for CIGS solar cells has been achieved at 23.35%. This is
above the average, and close to the record of other popular c-Si technologies.

Competitive production costs

CIGS solar panels have competitive production costs, thanks to their thin design, featuring a
lower requirement of materials to manufacture solar cells.

Low carbon footprint

Manufacturing CIGS solar cells barely generates 12–20g of CO2 equivalent/kWh. This low
carbon footprint is fairly close to that of wind energy.

Superior aesthetics
Thanks to a lighter and thinner design, CIGS solar cells feature a superior aesthetic
appearance. On top of it, CIGS flexible solar panel models adapt to oddly shaped buildings,
ideal for improving aesthetics.

Unique properties suited for various applications

With their lightweight, CIGS solar cells can be installed on rooftops with a limited weight
capacity. This technology can also be manufactured into CIGS flexible solar panel options for
oddly shaped buildings or Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).

Better performance in diffuse light & high temperatures

CIGS solar cells can perform better thanks to better adaptation in diffuse light locations and a
low-temperature coefficient of -0.36%/ºC, which reduces power losses in extreme climate
locations.

Suitable for bifacial applications

Bifacial CIGS solar panels can be manufactured, to take advantage of the albedo resource. The
solar industry recently made breakthroughs to improve bifacial CIGS technology.
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CIGS thin-film solar panels can potentially be recycled

CIGS solar cell technology can be recycled, recovering 100% of the silver and 85% of the
Indium used to manufacture the cells.

Cons
Manufacturing requires a rare metal
CIGS thin-film solar panels require Indium, which is considered a rare metal. The only upside is
that most of the Indium in CIGS thin-film solar panels can be recycled from old modules.

Rapid solar cell degradation in certain conditions

CIGS thin-film solar cells can be highly affected by water vapour that causes sodium migration
within the cell, and increases solar cell degradation. To avoid this, it is not recommended to use
this type of PV technology in areas with high humidity and intense sunlight when the product
quality is unknown.
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Pros & Cons of OPV thin-film solar panels

Photovoltaic (PV) technology allows solar energy to be converted directly into

electricity. Photovoltaic panels come in a variety of options to suit the varying
requirements of structure types; allowing for design flexibility and integrated
application.

Polymer PVs are part of what could be construed as a “third wave” of photovoltaics to
enter the market; the first two being traditional crystalline silicon cells and their newer
thin film varieties. With polymer PVs, there is an opportunity not only to improve upon
current solar cell technology but to apply it to applications unsuited to conventional PVs.

PROS:-

# Low manufacturing cost:

# Good flexibility: Since organic solar cells use flexible organic substances and substrates, they
have higher bendability and thinness, and can be made into various forms of flexible solar cells.

# Adjustable color: organic solar cells are made of organic materials such as dyes or conjugated
polymers, and the color range of solar cells can be adjusted by changing the type and ratio of
materials.

CONS:-

Organic solar cells also have some disadvantages, mainly including:

# Low Efficiency: Current organic solar cells have lower conversion efficiencies than crystalline
silicon solar cells.

# Poor stability: Organic substances are more easily affected by factors such as light, oxygen, and
moisture. Therefore, organic solar cells have poor stability and are hardly suitable for long-term
stable operation.

# Short lifespan: Due to the relatively short lifespan of organic solar cell materials, the stable output
of solar cells cannot be guaranteed for a long time.

# At present, organic solar cell technology is still under continuous research and development, and
its advantages in flexibility, low cost, and adjustable color still have great prospects and potential.
Classification: Internal Use
Classification: Internal Use