All manufacturers take a different approach to the creation of commercial solar panels, however there are some key steps in how they are made, depending on the type of base material which is used.
Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar PV panels
- These solar panels are composed using raw silicon as a base, which is made into ingots.
- This silicon is then cut into small wafers.
- These then undergo a polish and treatment process.
- Materials called dopants are added to adjust the electrical property of the solar cells
- The grid of conductor material is then spread across the top of the cells.
- A flat sheet of conducting material is put across the bottom of the solar panelThis is all protected by a sheet of glass.
Thin film solar PV panels
- These can be made a range of base materials including from A-si (amorphous silicon) solar cells cadium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide.
- Thin film is made as a roll of flexible plastic, or rigid forms, where it sandwiched in either glass or glass and foil.There are a vast number of practices in making thin film.
- In the instance of A-si it is made by vapour depositing silicon alloys in a number of layers, with an especially thin layer to absorb different ranges of the solar spectrum.
- Built into thin film is a shade resistant layer, or a number of different circuits, which mean if the solar panel is overshadowed then it does not break the circuit.
- It is this thin film solar panel technology which is being applied to building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
