US Forms $20 Million Consortium to Accelerate Research in Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells
The DOE is working in collaboration with the NREL to design a bifacial CdTe module
August 2, 2022
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of a Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Accelerator Consortium, a $20 million initiative aiming to rapidly reduce the cost of the second most common photovoltaic (PV) technology in use globally after silicon.
Led by the University of Toledo, First Solar, Colorado State University, Toledo Solar, and Sivananthan Laboratories, the consortium will be administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). It will help the country to boost the deployment of American-made solar technologies.
The NREL team aims to make CdTe solar cells more competitive globally. Its broad research plans include CdTe doping strategies and characterizing and exploring new CdTe contacting materials. The DOE is working in collaboration with the NREL to enable a bifacial CdTe module that absorbs light from both the front and back sides of the modules.
The DOE stated that the consortium would work to improve the continued cost and efficiency of the CdTe technology. The consortium comprises experts chosen through a competitive solicitation released by the NREL in 2021.
The $20 million initiative by the DOE will help the U.S. expand the production of CdTe modules and PV material while supporting the domestic CdTe supply chain. To bolster America’s competitiveness in this technology, NREL will serve as a resource, support, and technical analysis center for the consortium as it develops a technology.
DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports innovative research to overcome the current technological and commercial barriers to CdTe cells. SETO has also awarded funding for the research, development, and demonstration of methods that would enhance the reliability of the CdTe technology while lowering costs.
The DOE, through NREL and longstanding partnership with First Solar, has been a leader in CdTe technology as CdTe solar cells were first developed in America.
According to DOE, CdTe technology will pave the way for the U.S. solar sector to expand domestic production of panels by limiting the risk of being overtaken by low-cost foreign competition.
Last month, First Solar and French renewable energy developer Akuo signed a deal for the supply of solar modules, leveraging First Solar’s Cadmium Telluride thin film module technology platform.
The Biden administration announced a $56 million fund for solar manufacturing and recycling, targeting cost-effective energy and creating ample jobs.
Get the most relevant India solar and clean energy news.
RECENT POSTS
LATEST HEADLINES
Government Clarifies ALMM Enlistment Guidelines for Co-branded Solar Modules
Mar 24, 2023
Intra-State Sections of Evacuation Infrastructure for Renewables Delayed
Mar 24, 2023
EnBW Takes €2.4 Billion Final Investment Decision on Offshore Wind Project
Mar 24, 2023
India Missed 2022 Renewables Target as Rooftop Solar and Wind fell Short
Mar 24, 2023
Researchers Aim to Accelerate Delivery of Space-Based Solar Power to Earth
Mar 24, 2023
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has modified the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) guidelines and provided exceptions to broaden the qualification criteria for modules produced under agreements betwe...
March 24, 2023
C&I
In Bengaluru, a 100 kW Solar System Can Save C&I Entities ₹1 Million AnnuallyMercom India successfully concluded the C&I Clean Energy Meet 2023 in Bengaluru, where stakeholders in the solar sector and commercial and industrial entities converged to enthusiastically discuss the benefits of renewable ene...
March 24, 2023
Other
Gensol Acquires Solar Tracker Maker Scorpius for ₹1.35 BillionGensol Engineering, a part of solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company Gensol Group, has acquired India-based solar tracker manufacturer Scorpius Trackers for ₹1.35 billion ($16.4 million). Gensol said the ac...
March 23, 2023
C&I
Top 5 States for Open Access Solar Installations in CY 2022India added an impressive 2.5 GW open access solar capacity in 2022, registering a growth of 92% year-over-year (YoY), according to the 2022 Q4 & Annual Mercom India Solar Open Access Market Report. Karnataka emerged as the to...
March 23, 2023
Trending News
Technology
Researchers Find Solution to Manage Load in Solar PV & Storage Systems
February 28, 2023
February 27, 2023
February 24, 2023
January 17, 2023
Magazine
Latest News
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has modified the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) guidelines and provided exceptions to broaden the qualification criteria for modules produced under agreements...
March 24, 2023
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy that the intra-state stretches of the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) have been delayed due to various reasons, including...
March 24, 2023
German electric utility company Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg (EnBW) has made its final €2.4 billion (~$2.6 billion) investment decision on He Dreiht, a major wind project in the German North Sea. The project has a capacity of 960...
March 24, 2023
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy report has isolated underwhelming progress on rooftop solar and wind energy projects as the primary reason for India falling short of achieving its renewable energy capacity target...
March 24, 2023
Researchers at Northumbria University are studying ways of producing wireless electricity from space to Earth by harvesting the Sun’s energy. U.S.-based aerospace, defense, and information security organization Lockheed Martin...
March 24, 2023
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) recently directed Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) and the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) to recompute the delayed payment charge from...
March 24, 2023
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has devised a new way to produce perovskite solar cells that could speed its commercialization. Different layers are typically added sequentially to a conductive glass substrate to...
March 24, 2023
Saudi Arabia-based energy company ACWA Power has signed power purchase and investment agreements with National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan, and the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade to develop new solar and battery...
March 24, 2023
The China Securities Regulatory Commission has approved the registration of CSI Solar, the engineering, procurement, and construction arm of solar module maker Canadian Solar, to issue an initial public offering (IPO). The...
March 24, 2023
Renewable capacity grew by 9.6% in 2022, adding a record 295 GW worldwide. This accounts for 83% of all power capacity added last year and brings the global renewable generation capacity to 3,372 GW by the end of last year, a...
March 24, 2023
Get the most relevant India solar and clean energy news.
POPULAR POSTS
Government Clarifies ALMM Enlistment Guidelines for Co-branded Solar Modules
Mar 24, 2023
Intra-State Sections of Evacuation Infrastructure for Renewables Delayed
Mar 24, 2023
EnBW Takes €2.4 Billion Final Investment Decision on Offshore Wind Project
Mar 24, 2023
India Missed 2022 Renewables Target as Rooftop Solar and Wind fell Short
Mar 24, 2023
Researchers Aim to Accelerate Delivery of Space-Based Solar Power to Earth
Mar 24, 2023
Regulator Directs Wind Energy Firm, MSEDCL, to Recompute Delayed Payment Charge
Mar 24, 2023
One-Step Coating Could Make Perovskite Solar Cells Commercially Viable
Mar 24, 2023