Photovoltaic Research and Development

Photo of NREL researcher inspecting a growth chamber of a physical vapor deposition systems.

A researcher inspects the growth chamber of a physical vapor deposition system, used for making solar cells from copper indium diselenide. Using a physical vapor deposition system, this NCPV researcher fabricates high-efficiency PV cells of thin films of copper indium diselenide.

Photovoltaic R&D efforts by the Department of Energy address a broad spectrum of issues — from improving materials and deposition to developing manufacturing processes to testing and engineering PV systems for various uses and locales. These efforts are divided into three development stages for PV materials, components, and systems:

Most of the activities in Fundamental Research and in Advanced Materials and Devices seek to improve PV modules, thus leading to lower production costs. Activities in Technology Development mainly consist of engineering and reliability of systems and of developing balance-of-system components.

Universities, national laboratories, and private companies conduct R&D on PV devices, components, and systems within all three R&D areas. Contracts awarded to companies are usually cost-shared, with an increased cost-sharing burden placed on industry as R&D advances. Industry and universities are also encouraged to collaborate with in-house researchers and to use measurements and characterization facilities at the national laboratories.