cm2 are manufactured in this automated production line. The annual capacity of this production line is about 1 MW, when it is operated in a normal eight hour shift. Although this capacity is by far too small for solar arrays of the SPS size it can be used to manufacture the solar array blanket, or a part thereof, for an early demonstration unit. Present development trends in the field of large solar arrays are not directly associated with the requirements derived from the SPS concept studies. Present design drivers are space missions which require a power output up to approximately 250 kW, as shown in Fig. 1. Major development goals are the increase of the pow- er/weight ratio and cost reduction by means of large area solar cells. Recent development activities of space solar cells have improved the electrical conversion efficiency as well as their power/weight ratio. The best cells produced in the laboratory show an efficiency of 15.5%. The thickness of the silicon wafers could be reduced to 50 ^m without dramatical power loss.
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