Terra Solar manufactures and carries out R&D on thin-film photovoltaic modules supported and encapsulated on glass sheets. We have been involved in the manufacturing of amorphous-silicon (a-Si) PV modules for the past 15 years. Currently, we are working on producing commercial quantities of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) PV modules. Through our R&D affiliate and in-house, we are developing what we believe will be the most efficient and cost effective method for manufacturing CIGS modules.

• The manufacturing cost of thin-film is substantially lower than that of crystalline silicon because thin-film modules use less material. Thin-film has a thickness of 1-2 microns. Crystalline silicon has a thickness of 200-300 microns.
  
  
• Thin-film-based PV modules, unlike crystalline silicon, can be interconnected in series in the manufacturing process itself unlike crystalline silicon which requires a further step to solder connections between cells.
  
  
• Glass-to-glass encapsulated thin-film photovoltaic modules are more easily sealed hermetically because of the thinness and uniformity of the film.
  
  
• Certain thin-film modules, such as amorphous silicon, perform much better at high temperatures than crystalline silicon.
  
  
• In many applications, the aesthetics of thin-film PV modules are preferable to those of crystalline silicon.
  
  
• Most Important: Due to the above factors, thin-film modules are substantially lower in cost, both in terms of $/watt and $/unit area, compared to crystalline and poly-crystalline modules.

Thin-film PV modules are ideal for use in Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). BIPV involves solar panels integrated directly into a building's architecture to provide one source of electricity for the building. Terra Solar has recently developed a specularly transparent a-Si module that can be used for photovoltaic windows. Amorphous-silicon material is itself semi-transparent and thus is most suitable for transparent modules. Thin-film rather than crystalline silicon is the preferred technology for BIPV because thin-film PV modules can more easily be incorporated into building material and are more aesthetically pleasing.

Lower cost Good at low light levels Good at high temperatures Excellent for BIPV

Low efficiency Light-induced degradation

Lowest cost Higher efficiency Good for BIPV Good at low light levels