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KIST Partners with Paru on Development of CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cell Printing Technology (February 2, 2024)
- Date : 2024-04-03
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International Cooperation Team
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KIST Partners with Paru on Development of CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cell Printing Technology
On February 1st, 2024, KIST held a Linking Lab project plaque unveiling ceremony with Paru Corporation (CEO: Moon-Sik Kang) at the KIST Jeonbuk Branch in Wanju County, North Jeolla Province.
CIGS thin-film solar cells, known for their high light absorption rate among non-silicon solar cells, boast the highest energy conversion efficiency and excellent stability, making them valuable as next-generation solar cells. However, they have yet to secure a significant market share in the solar energy market due to the low-cost competition from Chinese silicon solar cells. To overcome these limitations, it is necessary to replace the existing high-cost vacuum processes.
The CIGS solar cell printing technology developed by the KIST research team can efficiently reduce materials waste during the solution process, and since components can be manufactured with low-cost equipment, there is great potential for lowering production costs through alternative processes. Furthermore, it is possible to easily laminate thin films on large-area substrates, and productivity improvements can be achieved through integration with the roll-to-roll production process. Both institutions plan to conduct joint research for two years to scale up and commercialize the printed CIGS solar cell technology.
Dr. Phillip Lee, a Principal Researcher at KIST, stated, “Due to the guaranteed performance and stability of this CIGS thin-film solar cell printing process technology, it will come to play a leading role in urban decentralized power generation for carbon neutral scenarios.” He also emphasized the importance of accelerating product commercialization through the technology transfer and the Linking Lab project.
The then-current President of KIST, Dr. Seok-Jin Yoon, remarked, “The printed CIGS thin-film solar cell technology developed through joint research between KIST and Paru is expected to contribute to improving the global energy issue as an innovative technology for enhancing carbon neutrality.”
The CEO of Paru, Moon-Sik Kang, expressed optimism, saying, “Securing the large-area printing process technology for CIGS solar cells can provide a cost-competitive solution. We look forward to integrating it with our solar tracking system, and hope to have a chance to expand it into urban power generation systems.”