Crystalline silicon cells and modules in present photovoltaics

Impressive progress in PV technology over the past thirty years is evident from the lowering costs, the rising efficiency and the great improvements in system reliability and yield. Yearly growth rates in the last decade (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013) were on an average higher than 40%, and the global cumulative PV power installed reached 140 GWp in 2013 and photovoltaic power installed in 2013 overcome 30 GWp. The workhorse of present photovoltaics is crystalline silicon technology. Basic principles of photovoltaic cell physics and technology have been demonstrated on fabrication of crystalline silicon cells and modules, also new prospective technologies. Differences between technologies are discussed and present domination of crystalline silicon technology is explained. The aim is to give information important for understanding basic problems of physics, construction and manufacturing photovoltaic cells and modules.