Significant progress in CIGS thin-film solar cell technology reported at IWCIGSTech7

摘要

Photovoltaic modules with CIGS absorbers are very effective in converting light directly into electricity. Due to their specific advantages CIGS thin-film modules are among the most promising photovoltaic technologies. Many companies and institutions worldwide contribute to this development with diversified approaches. An efficient exchange of knowledge is essential to move the technology forward. In June 2016, the IW-CIGSTech workshop was organized for the seventh consecutive year in a row. This time, the event took place as a parallel event to the EU-PVSEC/Intersolar Europe in Munich. In the workshop, representatives from industry and academia gathered to discuss the latest developments in the fast-developing field of CIGS (Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2) based solar cells. As a result of last year's workshop, a joint, community-wide effort resulted in the broadly acknowledged "White Paper for CIGS thin film solar cell technology" [1]. In this article, we provide a brief impression of the progress and challenges reported in this year's workshop.