What kinds of PV are available?
The majority of power modules in use since 1955 are made of single- or multicrystalline silicon, though several manufacturers are producing large quantities of amorphous silicon power modules. Most solar-powered consumer products use thin-film amorphous silicon PV. Satellites and other space applications have used single-crystal silicon, single-crystal gallium arsenide, and test systems of thin-film materials. Several companies are manufacturing thin-film modules of cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2, or CIS), but these are mostly pilot production at this time and are not available in commercial quantities.
