A different kind of solar technology is poised to go big

Photo: U.S. Department of Energy. Article by Maria Gallucci. Grist – July 26, 2021.

Silicon is facing bottlenecks and trade sanctions. Is this cadmium telluride’s moment?

Most solar panels covering the world’s rooftops, fields, and deserts today share the same ingredient: crystalline silicon. The material, made from raw polysilicon, is shaped into wafers and wired into solar cells, devices that convert sunlight into electricity. Recently, the industry’s dependence on this singular technology has become something of a liability. Supply chain bottlenecks are slowing down new solar installations worldwide. Major polysilicon suppliers in China’s Xinjiang region — accused of using forced labor from Uyghurs — are facing U.S. trade sanctions. […]

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