Strategies for realizing high-efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells

Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells have achieved a record efficiency of 26.81% in a front/back-contacted (FBC) configuration. Moreover, thanks to their advantageous high V_OC and good infrared response, SHJ solar cells can be further combined with wide bandgap perovskite cells forming tandem devices to enable efficiencies well...

Energy Loss Analysis of Two-Terminal Tandem PV Systems under Realistic Operating Conditions—Revealing the Importance of Fill Factor Gains

The tandem PV technology can potentially increase the efficiency of PV modules over 30%. To design efficient modules, a quantification of the different losses is important. Herein, a model for quantifying the energy loss mechanisms in PV systems under real-world operating conditions with a level of detail back to the components and their...

Developing an energy rating for bifacial photovoltaic modules

The photovoltaic (PV) module energy rating standard series IEC 61853 does not cover bifacial PV modules. However, the market share of bifacial PV modules has dramatically increased in recent years and is projected to grow. This work demonstrates how Parts 3 and 4 of the IEC 61853 standard could be extended to bifacial modules. First, we...

Ray-optics study of gentle non-conformal texture morphologies for perovskite/silicon tandems

We investigate gentle front side textures for perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. These textures enhance the absorption of sunlight, yet are sufficiently gentle to allow deposition of an efficient perovskite top cell. We present a tandem solar cell with such gentle texture, fabricated by Kaneka corporation, with an efficiency as high as 28...

Towards bifacial silicon heterojunction solar cells with reduced TCO use

Reducing indium consumption, which is related to the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) use, is a key challenge for scaling up silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cell technology to terawatt level. In this work, we developed bifacial SHJ solar cells with reduced TCO thickness. We present three types of In₂O₃-based TCOs,...

Introducing a comprehensive physics-based modelling framework for tandem and other PV systems

We introduce a novel simulation tool capable of calculating the energy yield of a PV system based on its fundamental material properties and using self-consistent models. Thus, our simulation model can operate without measurements of a PV device. It combines wave and ray optics and a dedicated semiconductor simulation to model the...

Achieving 23.83% conversion efficiency in silicon heterojunction solar cell with ultra-thin MoO_x hole collector layer via tailoring (i)a-Si:H/MoO_x interface

Thin films of transition metal oxides such as molybdenum oxide (MoO_x) are attractive for application in silicon heterojunction solar cells for their potential to yield large short-circuit current density. However, full control of electrical properties of thin MoO_x layers must be mastered to obtain an efficient hole...

Concepts for heat utilization and passive cooling techniques to improve reliability and performance of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

When integrated into urban environments, photovoltaic (PV) systems usually present operational temperatures that are significantly higher than those shown by rack-mounted systems. High operating temperatures are associated with reduced reliability of PV modules and significantly impact the electrical performance of solar cells. Utilizing the...

Room-temperature sputtered tungsten-doped indium oxide for improved current in silicon heterojunction solar cells

The window layers limit the performance of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells with front and back contacts. Here, we optimized tungsten-doped indium oxide (IWO) film deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The opto-electrical properties of the IWO were manipulated when deposited on top of thin-film silicon...

Colored optic filters on c-Si IBC solar cells for building integrated photovoltaic applications

Building Integrated Photovoltaic systems can produce a significant portion of the energy demand of urban areas. Despite their potential, they remain a niche technology that architects and project engineers still find esthetically limited. The dark blue or black color of standard photovoltaic panels is considered inappropriate for restoration...

A silicon carbide-based highly transparent passivating contact for crystalline silicon solar cells approaching efficiencies of 24%

A highly transparent passivating contact (TPC) as front contact for crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells could in principle combine high conductivity, excellent surface passivation and high optical transparency. However, the simultaneous optimization of these features remains challenging. Here, we present a TPC consisting of a silicon-oxide...

Comparing optical performance of a wide range of perovskite/silicon tandem architectures under real-world conditions

Since single junction c-Si solar cells are reaching their practical efficiency limit. Perovskite/c-Si tandem solar cells hold the promise of achieving greater than 30% efficiencies. In this regard, optical simulations can deliver guidelines for reducing the parasitic absorption losses and increasing the photocurrent density of the tandem...

Solar cells based on n⁺-AZO/p-BaSi₂ heterojunction: Advanced opto-electrical modelling and experimental demonstration

We performed advanced opto-electrical simulations on thin-film BaSi₂ solar cells. First, absorption spectra of BaSi₂-pn homojunction solar cells on Si substrate were calculated based on flat and/or pyramidally-textured surfaces, wherein 20-nm-thick n⁺-BaSi₂ was the topmost electron transport layer....

Optical characterization of poly-SiO_x and poly-SiC_x carrier-selective passivating contacts

The optical modelling for optimizing high-efficiency c-Si solar cells endowed with poly-SiO_x or poly-SiC_x carrier-selective passivating contacts (CSPCs) demands a thorough understanding of their optical properties, especially their absorption coefficient. Due to the mixed phase nature of these CSPCs, spectroscopic...

A photovoltaic window with sun-tracking shading elements towards maximum power generation and non-glare daylighting

Vertical space bears great potential of solar energy especially for congested urban areas, where photovoltaic (PV) windows in high-rise buildings can contribute to both power generation and daylight harvest. Previous studies on sun-tracking PV windows strayed into the trade-off between tracking performance and mutual shading, failing to achieve...

Optimized back Reflectors for Rear Diffused c-Si Solar Cells

At present, research in c-Si solar cells is focused on increasing the efficiency while reducing the amount of used materials. Since silicon wafer and metal contribute up to 50% to the cost of a module, it is crucial to reduce the amount of these materials to fabricate cost-effective modules. In particular, for reducing the consumption of metal,...

Quadruple-junction thin-film silicon-based solar cells with high open-circuit voltage

Advanced Light Management Approaches for Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells

Light management is important for improving the performance of thin-film solar cells. Advanced concepts of efficient light scattering and trapping inside the cell structures need to be investigated. An important tool for design and optimisation of the concepts present optical modelling and simulation. In the article a model of light scattering...