海外における太陽光発電技術の開発状況(<特集>太陽光発電の動向)

概要

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Photovoltaics (PV) is a novel power generation system using solar cells as an energy conversion device. PV market is expanding very rapidly in the world. The annual production of solar cells in the world at 2004 increased up to 1.2GW. The total production of solar cells in Japan was roughly 50% of the global shipment. Over 90% of the total shipment constituted bulk Si solar cells. Thin film solar cells are believed to be very promising in the future, however, at present, the ratio of shipment for thin film solar cells is still less than 10%. Very recently, the long-term target for developing the large-scale photovoltaics has been discussed in most of countries producing solar cells. In this paper, the PV roadmaps in European countries, the United States of America and Asian countries are presented. Then, the present status of solar cell technologies in the world is reviewed. The maximum efficiency of Si solar cells is 24.7% for 4cm^2 cell. Single crystal and cast polycrystalline Si solar cell modules with efficiencies of 12-16% are commercially available now, and thin film solar cells such as amorphous Si, microcrystalline Si (μc-Si) and Cu (InGa)Se_2 (CIGS) solar cells have been extensively developed up to now. The present status of energy conversion efficiencies and manufacturing technologies of the second-generation solar cells is reviewed.
2005-09-20