U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Solar Energy Technologies Program

Photovoltaic Modules

This PV and wind system contains 8 - 120 watt PV modules that are used for power at a Colorado home.

PV modules must be optimized to push their performance beyond present limitations. This optimization requires knowing and controlling technical details such as doping profiles, morphology, short-range order, stoichiometry, and process uniformity. Research also continues to help decrease the costs of module manufacturing.

Research on modules focuses on several of today's challenges:

• Understanding and improving module performance by studying specific material areas.
• Boosting module performance and reliability.
• Accomplishing higher yields in production.
• Redesigning the junction boxes.
• Developing better frameless modules and back-skin material.
• Integrating the interconnect, lamination, and fabrication processes.
• Developing larger modules with larger cells.
• Improving the packing density of the cells on the module.
• Reducing labor costs by automated assembly.

To learn more about PV materials, see:

• Crystalline Silicon
• Thin Films