Enhancing performance of polar InGaN-based thin film solar cells through intrinsic layer impact optimization: Numerical modeling

The paper deals with the conception and feasibility of the device structure based on the optimized PIN-(In, Ga)N homojunction solar cells. A new and efficient model combining the most realistic ones considering the impacts of band gap narrowing, collection efficiency, Shockley-Read-Hall recombination, and interface polarization is proposed to...

Solar Cooling Integrated Façades: Key perceived enabling factors and prospects of future applications

Solar cooling integrated façades (SCIFs) have the potential to reduce primary energy consumption for space cooling. Identifying key enabling factors in the context of technical and product (T&P), financial (F), as well as process and stakeholder (P&S) related aspects represent an important step providing relevant knowledge for...

Highly Compact Partial Power Converter for a Highly Efficient PV-BESS Stacked Generation System

The inherently intermittent nature of photovoltaic (PV) energy has brought increasing interest towards the integration between PV sources and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). In this paper, a Series Partial Power Processing (PPP) converter based on Capacitive Power Transfer (CPT) is proposed to integrate PV and BESS in a grid-connected...

Architectural Photovoltaic Applications: Lessons Learnt and Perceptions from Architects

Researchers have reported that despite technological development in photovoltaic technology and substantial cost reduction, there is still a narrow interest in architectural photovoltaic applications (APA). Lack of interest is correlated to various bottlenecks, and one of them is a lack of knowledge among architects on the possibilities and...

Characterization of the defect density states in MoO_x for c-Si solar cell applications

Thin layers of MoO_x have been deposited by thermal evaporation followed by post-deposition annealing. The density of states distributions of the MoO_x films were extracted deconvoluting the absorption spectra, measured by a photothermal deflection spectroscopy setup, including the small polaron contribution. Results...

Advanced Light Management in Thin-Film Solar Cells

The coming years will see humanity facing significant challenges to ensure its continued survival. The threat of global warming to humans and the environment – exacerbated by rapidly growing population and energy demand – requires quick and decisive actions. Among them, increasing the generation of electricity from renewable resources is...

Simulation based Analysis of Transformerless Photovoltaic Inverter Topologies for Reactive Power handling Capability

This study investigates the reactive power generation capability of the existing transformerless Photovoltaic Inverter Topologies (PVIT) with their conventional switching strategies. The topologies such as H5, families of H6 (H6, H6-I, H6-II, H6-III and H6-IV), HERIC, and clamped topologies (optimized H5, passive clamped H6 and HBZVR) have been...

Maximizing annual yield of bifacial photovoltaic noise barriers

In this work we consider noise barriers with integrated photovoltaic modules. The novelty is that bifacial modules are considered. A full scale bifacial photovoltaic noise barrier was built and its power output was monitored. In addition we developed an advanced numerical model for predicting this power output for given weather conditions....

Quenching Mo optical losses in CIGS solar cells by a point contacted dual-layer dielectric spacer: A 3-D optical study

A 3-D optical modelling was calibrated to calculate the light absorption and the total reflection of fabricated CIGS solar cells. Absorption losses at molybdenum (Mo) / CIGS interface were explained in terms of plasmonic waves. To quench these losses, we assumed the insertion of a lossless dielectric spacer between Mo and CIGS, whose optical...

Back-contacted BaSi₂ solar cells: An optical study

We present the optical investigation of a novel back-contacted architecture for solar cells based on a thin barium (di)silicide (BaSi₂) absorber. First, through the analysis of absorption limits of different semiconducting materials, we show the potential of BaSi₂ for photovoltaic applications. Then, the proposed back...

Minimizing optical losses in monolithic perovskite/c-Si tandem solar cells with a flat top cell

In a monolithic perovskite/c-Si tandem device, the perovskite top cell has to be deposited onto a flat c-Si bottom cell without anti-reflective front side texture, to avoid fabrication issues. We use optical simulations to analyze the reflection losses that this induces. We then systematically minimize these losses by introducing surface...