Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Giant: Developing Next-Generation Technology to Drive Module Efficiency Breakthroughs Beyond 25%.

Recently, the cadmium telluride thin-film solar giantFirst Solarannounced that it will adjust production at its factories in Penang, Malaysia, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, planning to2025reduce production by1GWof6the series of module capacity, with this adjustment expected to be completed in2025the second quarter of the year. These two factories previously had a combined annual capacity of about6.4GWCadmium Telluride (CdTe) is used in all cases.CdTe, using cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film technology. It is worth noting that this adjustment does not mean a complete shutdown of the factories, but rather that some production lines will be repurposed for technology research and development or equipment upgrades.

Against the backdrop of crystalline silicon photovoltaic back contactBCmodule efficiency breakthroughs,24%it announced an upgrade of Southeast Asian factory capacity to develop next-generation cadmium telluride technology and drive module efficiency breakthroughs.First SolarThis strategic layout reflects the potential competitiveness of cadmium telluride thin-film technology and the trend of differentiation in industry technology routes.25%Optical properties of cadmium telluride thin-film batteries:, bandgap width and spectral matching.

1The bandgap width of cadmium telluride thin-film batteries is generally

The bandgap of cadmium telluride thin-film solar cells is generally1.45eV, which is highly matched with the solar spectrum distribution on the ground. The bandgap width is an important parameter of semiconductor materials, determining the range of photon energy that the material can absorb. The bandgap width of cadmium telluride allows it to efficiently absorb photon energy in the visible and near-infrared light regions, thereby improving photoelectric conversion efficiency. In contrast, traditional silicon solar cells have a wider bandgap (about1.1eV, which is slightly inferior in spectral matching.

2), which slightly falls short in spectral matching.

, high absorption coefficient.Cadmium telluride is a direct bandgap material, with an absorption coefficient of up to10^5/cm100, which is

Crystalline silicon solar cells are still the mainstream in the photovoltaic market (with a market share exceeding95%times that of silicon materials. This means that cadmium telluride thin films have a strong ability to absorb photons, effectively capturing photons and converting them into electrical energy even under weak light conditions. Silicon materials, as indirect bandgap materials, have a relatively complex light absorption process that requires phonon assistance, resulting in lower efficiency under weak light conditions.Crystalline silicon batteries are still the mainstream in the photovoltaic market (with a market share of over,), and their efficiency improvements mainly rely on passivation technologies (such as,BCTOPConBC, and24%HJT).Module efficiency breakthroughsmark the crystalline silicon technology approaching its single-junction theoretical limit (29.4%.First Solar) However, further improvements depend on stacking or multi-junction technologies. In contrast, cadmium telluride, as a thin-film technology, has a higher theoretical efficiency limit (20%32%-33%.) but its actual mass production efficiency has long lagged behind crystalline silicon (currentlythe mass production efficiency is about25%If achieved, it will significantly reduce, or even catch up with, the efficiency gap with crystalline silicon cells. Although crystalline silicon technology is currently efficient, its cost reduction potential is diminishing (high equipment investment and strict purity requirements for silicon materials), while the low-temperature deposition process of cadmium telluride (low energy consumption), short industrial chain, strong response to weak light, and low temperature coefficient (more stable performance in high-temperature environments) make it suitable for large ground-mounted power stations and building-integrated photovoltaics.the highest in the laboratory23.1%.25%) If this targetis achieved, it will significantly narrow or even catch up with the efficiency gap with crystalline silicon batteries. At this stage, although crystalline silicon technology is efficient, its cost reduction potential is slowing down (high equipment investment, strict requirements for silicon purity), while cadmium telluride's low-temperature deposition process (low energy consumption), short industrial chain, strong weak light response, and low temperature coefficient (more stable performance in high-temperature environments) give it unique advantages in large ground power stations and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV2008). If efficiency breakthroughs occur,2014the cost of electricity (the highest in the laboratoryLCOE9) competitiveness of cadmium telluride will be significantly enhanced. Taking the domestic cadmium telluride photovoltaic enterprise Longyan Energy as an example, since its establishment in50, this company has been the first in China to achieve complete independent research and development and industrialization of cadmium telluride thin-film solar technology. Sincethe highest in the laboratory, Longyan Energy has begun to layout a differentiated strategy in the market, successfully developing a large series of products such as ink rhyme, clear brilliance, colorful, heavenly work, ink wash, flame color, flame brick, flame tile, and flame railing,the highest in the laboratory, coveringFirst SolarThe next-generation upgrade of cadmium telluride technology is not only a key measure in the efficiency competition but also a strategic choice based on its theoretical advantages and technological accumulation. If successful breakthroughs are made.25%types of cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic building materials suitable for different architectural application scenarios. These products have been widely used in over two hundred iconic projects both domestically and internationally, and Longyan Energy has become a leader in the industry.the highest in the laboratoryThe next-generation cadmium telluride technology upgrade is not only a key measure in the efficiency competition but also a strategic choice based on its theoretical advantages and technological accumulation. If the efficiency threshold is successfully broken, cadmium telluride is expected to form a differentiated advantage over crystalline silicon in niche markets such as high-temperature power stations, while also pushing thin-film photovoltaic technology back into the mainstream competitive arena.