Thin Film Photovoltaics Response to Heat on Various Substrates

Thin-film photovoltaics are flexible and have the potential to be more cost-effective than crystalline silicon. However, increasing the temperature of a semiconductor reduces the band gap and overall efficiency of the solar panel. A Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) 70 Watt panel was set directly onto an asphalt roof during peak sun hours to test the effects of temperature on electricity production. An Arduino Uno board was programmed to report the temperature of the roof and the temperature of the white platform on which 14 additional CIGS panels were installed. When compared with amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells installed on a metal roof near the location, the CIGS panels performed better when the temperature ranged from 18-28 °C and the a-Si were more efficient when the temperature was between 27-36 °C.