Compare · Solar cells
CIGS thin film vs CdTe thin film
RANKED BY INDEPENDENTLY CERTIFIED RESEARCH-CELL EFFICIENCY
#7 VS #8
CHECKED 06 SEPT 2026
Side by side
Verdict
CIGS thin film ranks #7 of 8 on Independently certified research-cell efficiency (23.35%); CdTe thin film ranks #8 (23.1%).
Rank 07 of 8 · leads
Independently certified research-cell efficiency
23.35%
MakerSolar Frontier
Date2018
Verified04 Sept 2026
Evidence
NREL chart / Progress in Photovoltaics tables: Cd-free CIGS 23.35% +/- 0.5%, AIST Nov 2018, Solar Frontier.Rank 08 of 8
Independently certified research-cell efficiency
23.1%
MakerFirst Solar
Date2024
Verified04 Sept 2026
Evidence
Solar cell efficiency tables (Version 68): CdTe cell 23.1% +/- 0.3%, NREL (5/24), First Solar. Same official-table pipeline as the NREL Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart. Thin-film class, one-sun.Try another pair
More CIGS thin film matchups
Source NREL/NLR Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart, certifying-lab announcements (Fraunhofer ISE, NREL, LONGi/ESTI/ISFH), and Progress in…
Last checked 06 Sept 2026