Silicon solar cells

Chapter 1 is an introductory chapter on photovoltaics (PVs) and gives a technological overview on silicon solar cells. The various steps involved in the development of silicon solar cells, from the reduction of sand to fabrication of solar cells, are described in detail. The global status of solar PV modules in terms of their contribution to energy generation is also discussed. At present China, India, USA, Japan and Germany are the biggest solar markets in the world, accounting for most of the growth in solar power. A few other developing countries also constitute the emerging market for PVs. Chapter 1 also discusses the installed capacity, targets and current policy for power generation from PVs across different countries. Finally, to set the scene for subsequent chapters, three types of thin-film PV technologies are introduced: cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper–indium–gallium–selenide (CIGS) and amorphous silicon (a-Si), and their advantages and disadvantages over crystalline Si modules are discussed.