The Impact of Tellurium Supply on Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaics
2010; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 328; Issue: 5979 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1126/science.1189690
ISSN1095-9203
Autores Tópico(s)Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films
ResumoFor decades, the material associated with photovoltaic (PV) cells has been silicon. However, after many years of development, cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV modules have become the lowest-cost producer of solar electricity, despite working at lower efficiency than crystalline silicon cells. CdTe sales are growing rapidly, but there is concern about projecting hundredfold increases in power production relative to current production with CdTe PV modules. One reason is that Te, a humble nonmetal that is actually abundant in the universe, is as rare as many of the precious metals recovered from Earth's crust ( 1 ). Furthermore, current technology now uses Te at rates that are substantial fractions of its supply. Here, I argue that the long-term potential for CdTe PV modules need not be bleak, given realistic developments in module technology and Te recovery.
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