Abstract
Advances in design and manufacturing technology of crystalline multijunction solar cells have continued to push efficiencies higher. Triple junction cells with 28% efficiency are now available to the user and 30 % prototype cells have been demonstrated. Development of thin-film solar cell arrays is being aggressively funded for next-generation high power space platforms. Initial modules of thin-film photovoltaics comprised of amorphous silicon and Cu(In,Ga)Se <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> devices have been demonstrated. Space-compatible technologies for thin-film cell integration, contacts, and protective coatings are being developed. Cell-level development efforts aimed at increasing performance are continuing and progress is being made toward a 15% efficiency goal for cells on lightweight, flexible substrates. High temperature polymer substrates for Cu(In,Ga)Se <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> cells have been demonstrated. Thin-film solar arrays are promising for 3-7 times increase in specific power (W/kg) and stowed volume (W/m <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sup> ) and a 3-5 times decrease in array cost ($/W) compared to state-of-the-art rigid panel solar arrays
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