Silicon-film {trademark} photovoltaic manufacturing technology. Annual subcontract report, 1 January 1994--31 December 1994

The goal of AstroPower`s PVMaT-2A project is to develop an advanced, low-cost manufacturing process for a new utility-scale, flat-plate module. This process starts with the production of continuous sheets of thin-film polycrystalline silicon using the Silicon-Film {trademark} process. Our main product focus in PVMaT-2A has been a 240 cm{sup 2} solar cell. Continuous sheets of silicon are produced and cut into wafers that are 15.5 cm on a side. Both standard modules (36 solar cells) and a new 56 solar cell module were produced. The targeted high power module design is a 170 watt module, used in a twelve module array to generate 2 kW. The solar cells, modules, and array developed here are described