What are cadmium telluride solar panels?

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar panels are the most popular type of thin-film technology. These panels comprise several thin layers: one main renewable energy-producing layer made from the compound cadmium telluride and surrounding layers for electricity conduction and collection.

What is cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV)?

The United States is the leader in cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing, and NREL has been at the forefront of research and development in this area. PV solar cells based on CdTe represent the largest segment of commercial thin-film module production worldwide.

What is cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film solar technology?

Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin-film solar technology was introduced to the world in 1972 by Bonnet, D. and Rabenhorst, H. when they evaluated a Cadmium sulfide (CdS)/CdTe heterojunction which delivered a 6% efficiency. The technology has been improved to reduce manufacturing costs and increase efficiency.

Are cadmium telluride photovoltaic cells toxic?

Cadmium telluride photovoltaic cells have negative impacts on both workers and the ecosystem. When inhaled or ingested the materials of CdTe cells are considered to be both toxic and carcinogenic by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Should I use thin-film solar panels with CdTe?

However, the issue with using thin-film panels with CdTe is that they contain large amounts of cadmium, a toxic element. Solar cells manufactured with a-Si are typically less efficient than other types and are geared more toward small-scale applications.

What is cadmium telluride (CdTe)?

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film PV modules are the primary thin film product on the global market, with more than 30 GW peak (GW p) generating capacity representing many millions of modules installed worldwide, primarily in utility-scale power plants in the US.