Review of Photovoltaic Research in the U.S

This paper describes U.S. research efforts to develop new generations of photovoltaic technologies having the potential for lower cost and better performance than the older generations of crystalline silicon technologies. The newer generations consist primarily of single and multijunction thin film devices destined for either flat plate or concentrator photovoltaic systems. The principal sponsorsfor the research are the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. photovoltaic companies, the Electric Power Research Institute, and those U.S. government agencies interested in the use of photovoltaics in space. The paper concludes with a description of future research activities in the areas of amorphous silicon, polycrystalline thin films, high efficiency concepts, and fundamental research.