An Active Switching Circuit for Solar Cells: A circuit that changes the wiring configuration of solar cells to optimise the electrical power output of a solar panel

The electrical output of a solar panel can be optimised in several ways, through the inclusion of bypass diodes (BPDs) or to have a maximum power point (MPP) tracker or DC optimiser to ensure that the panel is always operating at its global MPP. However most of these systems have to be implemented externally to the panel. A new system, the...

Periodic-Random Modulated Surface Textures For Efficient Light Trapping in Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells

Thin-film silicon solar cells make use of relatively thin layers of active material compared to wafer based solar cells. The main advantage of thin absorber layers is the possibility to fabricate flexible solar cells. However, due to limited absorber layer thickness and weak absorption coefficients at long wavelengths, light management...

Modelling and Demonstration of a Bifacial PV Curtain for Building Applications

Global energy demand is on the rise. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2018, the building sector alone constituted 28 % of all energy-related CO2 emissions. In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the building sector, the European Union has decreed that every new building from 2021 must be a nearly zero energy...

Study of Yield Performance for Different PV Static and Dynamic System Orientation Topologies

One of the most important aspects to consider when a PV system will be mounted, is the PV panel’s orientation in order to receive the highest amount of solar radiation and thus produce as much energy as possible. This is achieved by tilting the solar panel to an optimal angle (which depends of the location’s latitude) or by tracking systems...

Selection Map for PV Module Installation Based on Shading Tolerability and Temperature Coefficient

Photovoltaic (PV) systems have provided the world with a renewable and environment friendly energy solution. However, PV systems face various loss mechanisms at the module level as well as power electronics level which need to be addressed for further growth of the technology. Power generation from PV modules suffer from heat losses that are a...