Fast and accurate ray-casting-based view factor estimation method for complex geometries

The concept of view factor has various applications in engineering problems, ranging from heat management to bifacial photovoltaics. Analytical solutions for view factor calculations are difficult to obtain and normally numerical methods are used. For complex geometries, when several surfaces are arbitrarily arranged in a threedimensional...

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...

System design for a solar powered electric vehicle charging station for workplaces

This paper investigates the possibility of charging battery electric vehicles at workplace in Netherlands using solar energy. Data from the Dutch Meteorological Institute is used to determine the optimal orientation of PV panels for maximum energy yield in the Netherlands. The seasonal and diurnal variation in solar insolation is analyzed to...