NREL Allocates $1.8 Million in Second Round Contracts for Advancing Affordable, High-Efficiency Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells

The U.S. Department of Energy, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has granted $1.8 million to back seven projects supporting the Cadmium Telluride Accelerator Consortium (CTAC). CTAC, initiated in August 2022, focuses on advancing cadmium telluride (CdTe) technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in thin-film solar cells. The latest round of awards, totaling $2 million, was disclosed in December 2023, following a call for proposals in June 2023. The selected projects aim to contribute to the consortium’s objectives.

For high-efficiency devices, the following projects were selected:

Vapor-Assisted Group V Diffusion Doping Control in High-Efficiency CdSeTe Solar Cells developed by Arizona State University

Optimizing Iodine-Doped CdTe for Potential n-Type Solar Cells developed by Washington State University

Solution-Processed Buffer Layers for CdTe Solar Modules developed by nexTC Corporation

For Tellurium supply, the project on Identifying High Potential Areas for Tellurium Extraction Within Existing Base and Precious Metal Supply Chains was selected. This is being developed by University of Nevada, Reno

In the New Device Configurations and Processes category, the following projects were selected:

Ultra-Thin High-Efficiency CdTe/MgCdTe Double-Heterostructure Solar Cells With Light-Trapping Features developed by Arizona State University

Innovative High-Voltage Cadmium Selenide (CdSe) Solar Cells developed by Iowa State University

In the Characterization, Modeling, and Simulation category, the project on Automated Atomic-Resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy and Machine Learning for Achieving High-Efficiency Cd(Se)Te Solar-Cell Devices was chosen. This is being developed by University of Illinois Chicago.