Advances in flexible and ultra lightweight monolithically integrated a-Si∶H based triple-junction PV modules made using roll-to-roll deposition

United Solar Ovonic (USO) has developed a-Si:H based solar cells on polymer substrate using high-throughput roll-to-roll deposition technology for space and stratospheric missions. In addition, we have advanced two new developments: (1) the monolithically laser-integrated module on flexible polymer substrate to attain an initial specific power as high as 2343 W/kg at the module level; and (2) a new monolithic hybrid module design which marries the advantages of our wire bonded baseline space cell with those of the advanced laser integrated module. It uses standard production cells as the starting material and therefore it is roll-to-roll compatible. With this design, we have fabricated modules having initial AM0 aperture area efficiency ~9.5%. It operates with high voltage and high specific power. It is flexible, modular and easily scalable. The modules can be interconnected into strings and arrays that can be rolled up into a small volume for stowage.