Funding Opportunity: SuNLaMP
SunShot Subprogram: Photovoltaics
Location: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Amount Awarded: $3,000,000
CIGS PV cell technology is a promising candidate to exceed SunShot price targets. However, adoption of CIGS has been hindered by significant uncertainties regarding long-term reliability and performance stability, as well as a lack of accurate modeling tools to predict system performance. Conducted at the Regional Test Centers (RTCs), this project will reduce the uncertainties surrounding long-term reliability and performance of CIGS (copper indium gallium selenide) PV by measuring real-world performance and degradation rates of fielded CIGS systems and by publishing accurate, predictive performance models.
APPROACH
This project will characterize and monitor the existing and new CIGS modules at the Sandia RTC and use the detailed field data to develop and validate single-diode and double-diode models for CIGS in order to enable predictive models for CIGS degradation rates in a range of irradiance, temperature, and precipitation conditions.
INNOVATION
The project is unique in taking a comprehensive approach in characterizing CIGS modules from different manufacturers installed at the same location and using the detailed performance data to build predictive degradation models for CIGS.