Ten years of manufacturing RD in PVMAT-technicalaccomplishments, return on investment, and where we go next

摘要

The Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology Project (PVMaT) has beenconducting cost-shared R&D with industry for ten years. Objectivesof this project are to improve photovoltaic manufacturing processes andproducts and to lower manufacturing costs. The majority of the effortshave been module related. Results in terms of automation, yield, andthroughput have provided a significant reduction in direct manufacturingcosts. Some of these results are detailed, and a measure of the returndue to these efforts is discussed. Finally, technical directions forfuture activities are identified