INTREPID: INnovative smarT coatings for incREased Performance of Thin Film PV Solar Cells.

Solar PV systems represent a large and rapidly growing global market with large growth rates traditionally met

by low-cost c-Si systems imported from the Far-East. Recently markets for thin-film technologies based on CdTe

and CIGS have started to grow rapidly giving European manufacturers greater market share. However thin film

systems are limited to efficiencies of 15%. Smart coating technologies based on functional nano-materials

offer a tremendous opportunity to increase thin-film cell efficiency with relatively low investment. This

approach is commercially attractive and offer technical and commercial advantages for solar PV systems,

directly addressing the energy trilemma. However, outstanding issues relating to degradation and efficacy

have to be overcome to achieve commercial acceptance. INTREPID will develop coating technologies for smart

coating systems based on organic / inorganic coatings that can achieve 1% increase in cell efficiency for

lifetimes 20 years for in-process and in-field application.