<p>This article employs a dual methodology, combining experimental fabrication and numerical simulation to systematically investigate the performance of CdTe thin film solar cells through incorporation of metal oxide electron transport layers (ETLs). We have investigated the impacts of electron transport layers (ETLs: Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Molybdenum Trioxide (MoO₃)) on photovoltaic characteristics of CdTe solar cells. Detailed analyses of J-V curves and results of characterizations which included structural, optical, topological and electrical parameters revealed that ETLs play a significant role in varying solar cell performance. In the simulation, experimentally obtained values of different parameters such as layer thicknesses, energy gaps, carrier densities, and defect characteristics of the ETLs, were used as input parameters, and these were found to have a substantial effect on the open circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the CdTe solar cells. While thin film CdTe solar cells without employing ETLs showed an efficiency of 18.62%, CdTe solar cells with ETLs showed improved efficiencies of more than 23%. Finally Cu₂O as hole transport layer (HTL) is introduced to the CdTe solar cells with ETLs. It is observed that the incorporation of ETL and HTL yielded best results with an efficiency of 27%.</p>