Award Number: DE-EE0008161CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6Solar Energy Technologies OfficeLocation(s): COOffice(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
July 31, 2017
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Advanced Module Architecture for Reduced Costs, High Durability and Significantly Improved Manufacturability
Award Number: DE-EE0008161
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Solar Energy Technologies Office
Location(s): CO
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to Colorado State University (CSU) to demonstrate a new photovoltaic (PV) module architecture that would reduce manufacturing costs, streamline manufacturing processes, and reduce capital expenditure costs while improving reliability.
The proposed project would investigate new encapsulant materials and methods that have the potential to provide enhanced durability and reliability for thin film PV modules. Associated activities would involve data analysis, computer modeling, preliminary engineering and design, and laboratory research and development. Activities at CSU (Fort Collins, CO) in dedicated labs and research facilities would include sample fabrication and characterization, demonstration of prototype processes and fabrication tools, and quantification of benefits. Activities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, CO) would include optimization of processing parameters, sample fabrication, and quantification of benefits. Additional efforts at the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC) headquartered at State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (Albany, NY) would include sample fabrication and quantification of benefits.