Solar Energy最新文献

{"title":"Viability of performance improvement of degraded Photovoltaic plants through reconfiguration of PV modules","authors":"Ruchita Korgaonkar,&nbsp;Narendra Shiradkar","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113451","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents an analysis of the techno-economic viability of performance improvement of degraded PV plants through the reconfiguration of PV modules. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time the analysis is presented in the literature after taking into account the effect of various degradation modes and the cost of I-V tracing of the modules. Various reconfiguration strategies are explored and they are benchmarked against each other by considering the gain in the performance and the cost of required module swaps to realize the respective strategies. A Python-based bottom-up model of a utility-scale PV plant is developed for this purpose by using a single diode model for each cell in each module. The economic feasibility of reconfiguration is analyzed for two representative countries − India and USA to contrast the effect of different labor costs. Eventually, guidelines for conditions under which reconfiguration could be a viable option to improve the generation of a degraded PV plant are presented. It is shown that reconfiguration may make economic sense when some / all of the following conditions are met: i) small sample of module-level I-V is measured ii) labor costs are low iii) degradation mechanism results in non-uniform / localized degradation iv) payback periods are short (&lt; 2 years).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 113451"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143735181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elucidating uncertainty in bifacial photovoltaic gain estimation","authors":"Magnus Moe Nygård ,&nbsp;Marie Syre Wiig ,&nbsp;Nathan Roosloot ,&nbsp;Gaute Otnes ,&nbsp;Mari B. Øgaard ,&nbsp;Heine Nygard Riise ,&nbsp;Erik Stensrud Marstein","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The bifacial gain of fielded bifacial photovoltaic (PV) systems is commonly estimated by comparing the energy yield of the system with that of a monofacial reference. However, this approach is dependent on the selected reference, and can thus be associated with significant uncertainty, since the two technologies might have very different properties. This study investigates the significance of such differences when the bifacial gain is estimated from energy yield time series data. A series of corrections are applied to account for differences in installed capacity and responses with respect to temperature and irradiance. The analysis is carried out using data collected over two years from a 22.6 kW_p ground-mounted fixed-tilt PV system in Norway using four different monofacial technologies as reference systems that all rely on Si as the active material but have different cell architectures. With no corrections applied, the estimated bifacial gain with the monofacial technology that most closely resembles the bifacial is determined to 12.6 % for the two-year period considered. The estimate increases to 13.1 % when correcting for irradiance and 14.4 % when also correcting for temperature. The results demonstrate that the applied corrections reduces the range between the smallest and largest estimate of the bifacial gain from 6.3 to 3.5 percentage points. Although it is possible that the range can be reduced further if differences in spectral response and degradation are accounted for, it should also be expected that some of the remaining variation reflects the measurement uncertainty inherent to this method of estimating the bifacial gain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 113469"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heat dissipation in perovskite solar cells with different grain shapes","authors":"Ali Hajjiah","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heat dissipation in solar cells has been rarely presented in the literature despite a critical role in the thermal and electrical stability of these thermodynamic devices. We have simulated the heat dissipation through the grain structure of perovskite solar cells assuming grains with the single large size and shapes to facilitate the simulation of randomly shaped grains in real devices. To facilitate this, we converted the randomly shaped grains into large single rectangular and cylindrical grains and developed a coupled electrical-thermal model to investigate the heat dissipation and temperature distribution across the grain interior and boundaries. Heat generation via non-radiative recombination and joule heat (in bulk) and tail state recombination heat (in grain boundaries) versus the radiative and convective cooling were inserted in the calculations. It seems that grain geometry and shape (width, length, and thickness) have a vital impact on heat dissipation from the interior bulk of grain, and the grain boundaries act as cooling sources for the perovskite layer. The cylindrical-shaped grain shows a better cooling capability because of a smaller contact area with adjacent grains. The cylindrical grains can also compensate for the disadvantage of high surface traps, short carrier lifetime, and high surface recombination velocity at grain boundaries and protect the heat-sensitive perovskite layer against heat accumulation and decomposition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 113479"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143726304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental performance of a 1 MW photovoltaic plant in the Atacama Desert: A life cycle assessment study","authors":"D. Soler ,&nbsp;L. Rigamonti ,&nbsp;N. Gazbour ,&nbsp;E. Fuentealba","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photovoltaic (PV) systems are a viable solution for reducing environmental impact and supporting decarbonization efforts, though their impact varies significantly with installation location. This study examines the primary energy consumption and environmental performance of a 1 MW grid-connected PV plant located in the Atacama Desert, Chile, using a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) according to ISO 14040 and 14,044 standards. The functional unit is defined as the production and delivery of 1 kWh of electricity at medium voltage to the national grid over a 30-year lifetime. The ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method was applied covering 17 environmental impact indicators. The Atacama Desert’s unique conditions include high annual global horizontal irradiance values (&gt;2600 kWh/m²), a module degradation factor of 1.5 % per year, accelerated wear on components like inverters, civil works adapted to saline and corrosive soils, long transport distances, and limited water resources. The inventory models predominantly utilized primary data, including in-situ measurements and operational experiences from a locally operated facility. Results show that PV energy outperforms the Chilean national grid in all impact categories except Mineral Resource Scarcity, due to the strategic materials used in PV module manufacturing. Climate Change impact and Energy Payback Time were 33.1 g CO₂-eq/kWh and 1.18 years, respectively. Operation and Maintenance activities, often underestimated in LCA studies, were found to be relevant, contributing 10–25 % of the environmental impacts due to accelerated components replacement. Relative impacts can vary by up to 30 % depending on solar irradiation levels across different locations in the Atacama Desert. In conclusion, the increasing adoption of PV solar power generation presents a promising, environmentally friendly, and competitive alternative for Chile. Future research should explore utility-scale PV systems with varied configurations and components to better understand their environmental impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 113454"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SPICE simulation methodology to diagnose defects in upscaled Si/perovskite tandem solar cells","authors":"Gamhyo Jeon ,&nbsp;Younghyun Kim ,&nbsp;Jae-Gwang Lim ,&nbsp;Doh-Kwon Lee ,&nbsp;Jong-Keuk Park ,&nbsp;In Woo Choi ,&nbsp;Inho Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113426","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113426","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Si solar cells has reached its limits, there is growing interest in Si/perovskite tandem solar cells to overcome the single junction efficiency limit. As for single-junction cells, the maximum efficiency of Si solar cells is constrained to 33 % according to the Shockley-Queisser limit. However, the theoretical limit of the PCE of double junction tandem solar cells based on a Si bottom cell is 45 %, which is 1.5 times greater than that of silicon cells, sparking an upsurge in research activity in this area. Large-area scaling is vital for the commercialization of tandem solar cells. However, the unevenly distributed electrical defects formed during this process poses a significant challenge in maintaining high efficiency on large area cells. In this study, we developed an electrical diagnosis methodology using PySPICE to simulate upscaled Si/perovskite tandem solar cells. The electrical circuits were arranged in a 2D array, constituting a two-dimensional distributed diode model, enabling the formulation of a unit cell and its subsequent scaling up to a large area. Using the simulator we developed, we investigated the influence of two kinds of typical electrical defects (open and shunt defects) on the device performances of upscaled Si/perovskite tandem solar cells (M10-size). The diagnosis methodology is expected to enable the retrospective tracing of the sources of efficiency reduction in upscaled large area tandem solar cells. The results from this study will lay the groundwork for a novel approach to analyzing the non-uniformity that arises when scaling up Si/perovskite tandem solar cells to a large area.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 113426"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143714567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding proton radiation-induced degradation mechanisms in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 kesterite thin-film solar cells","authors":"Yun Zhao ,&nbsp;Siming Ren ,&nbsp;Haixin Wang ,&nbsp;Yongkang Wu ,&nbsp;Furong Song ,&nbsp;Lulu Dai ,&nbsp;Wensheng Li ,&nbsp;Peijun Liao ,&nbsp;Dongqing Wu ,&nbsp;Xueze Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113450","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Inorganic kesterite Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ thin film solar cells are well suited for optoelectronic applications. However, severe deficits in open-circuit voltage (V_OC) and fill factor (FF), attributed to defect states at the interface and/or within the bulk material, pose significant obstacles to further efficiency improvements. Herein, we applied proton irradiation at varying energy to CZTSSe thin-film solar cells to deliberately alter the device structure and investigate the mechanisms behind performance degradation. Our results indicate that the open-circuit voltage is highly sensitive to both the quality of the CdS/CZTSSe interface and the distribution of sodium (Na) within the device. Changes in the interface characteristics can significantly degrade the V_OC and FF. Excessive diffusion of Na from the substrate can reduce device performance, emphasizing the necessity for an optimized Na distribution to achieve high efficiency. Notably, the CZTSSe absorption layer exhibits excellent resistance to proton irradiation. These findings are crucial for the continued development and potential commercialization of CZTSSe thin-film solar cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 113450"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143714568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic numerical modeling and performance assessment of a hybrid photovoltaic thermal collector adsorption desalination system for sustainable water-energy nexus","authors":"Mohamed Ghazy ,&nbsp;Mohamed E. Zayed ,&nbsp;Shafiqur Rehman ,&nbsp;Kashif Irshad ,&nbsp;E.M.M. Ibrahim ,&nbsp;A.S.A. Mohamed ,&nbsp;Ehab S. Ali ,&nbsp;Ahmed S. Alsaman ,&nbsp;Ridha Ben Mansour ,&nbsp;Rached Ben-Mansour ,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Askalany","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global challenges of energy and freshwater shortages are becoming more pronounced, driven by the relentless march of population growth and climate change. Adsorption desalination techniques have gained significant attention as a sustainable solution to address the increasing global demand for fresh water and energy because of their ability to utilize low-grade thermal energy. This study presents the annual performance of a hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) with adsorption desalination system (ADS) under the weather conditions of Sohag City, Egypt. Numerical modeling is employed using MATLAB coupled with TRNSYS software to annually evaluate the system’s operational parameters and validate system performance. The study highlights that the PVT-ADS outperforms traditional adsorption desalination systems. During the summer months, the PVT electrical efficiency was 15.80 % better than that of a standard PV system without cooling. Additionally, the heat captured from the PV module enhanced the ADS water production rate to 6.50 m³/ton-day and the cooling power to 156 W/kg, respectively. In comparison, the standalone ADS obtained 5.50 m³/ton-day and 143 W/kg, respectively. Moreover, the hybrid PVT/adsorption desalination system could reduce the freshwater cost by around 20 % and 13 % in the case of driving the ADS system by waste heat or solar evacuated tube solar collector. Conclusively, the findings of the study highlight the hybrid PV/T-ADS’s potential to simultaneously address energy and water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 113441"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143714569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of a novel sustainable shape stabilized phase change material based on oil ash for photovoltaic thermal management","authors":"Ahmad Al Miaari ,&nbsp;Khaled Own Mohaisen ,&nbsp;Radhi Abdullah Lawag ,&nbsp;Amir Al-Ahmed ,&nbsp;Hafiz Muhammad Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phase change material (PCM) are becoming more desired for passive cooling in various applications, especially in photovoltaic (PV) thermal management. However, several issues arise when integrating PCM with PV panels, such as leakage, PCM container design, tilt angle considerations, and PCM low thermal conductivity, which affects the overall PV thermal management process. To address these issues, a novel sustainable shape-stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) based on oil ash derived from burning oils is used as a carrier for RT-42 PCM. This material aims to improve thermal conductivity, eliminate leakage, tilt angle issues, and the need of PCM container. In this study, the SSPCM was prepared using a two-step vacuum impregnation method, and its thermophysical properties and stability were investigated using various characterization techniques. Results showed that oil ash has a spherical, highly porous structure with particle sizes ranging from 13 µm to 50 µm, enabling effective absorption and distribution of PCM. Different RT-42 PCM loadings within the oil ash were examined, and results indicated that the optimal PCM loading is 40 % of the total weight, leading to a stable material with no signs of leakage. However, exceeding this percentage may result in leakage issues. Moreover, the results confirmed the uniform presence of PCM inside the oil ash with no chemical reactions occurring between the components. The SSPCM exhibited a latent heat of 71.54 J/g and a melting point of 38.1 °C. Additionally, the thermal conductivity of the material increased significantly from 0.19 W/m·K to 0.7352 W/m·K at 45 °C, representing a 287 % enhancement. To ensure the stability of the material and its properties, 100 melting-solidification cycles were performed. Results showed no leakage issues or changes in latent heat and thermal conductivity, confirming the material’s long-term reliability. To evaluate the practical performance of the SSPCM in PV thermal management applications, the temperature of a heat sink base exposed to a 2-watt heat load mimicking a PV panel under solar irradiance was measured and compared with an empty heat sink and a heat sink loaded with RT-42 PCM. Results demonstrated that the developed SSPCM reduced the heat sink temperature by a maximum of 4.7 °C during the heating phase and facilitated faster heat dissipation, with a maximum temperature difference of 4.2 °C compared to an empty heat sink.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 113455"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143714606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optical and structural properties of TaC thin films: Towards design of an efficient high temperature solar absorber coating","authors":"Daniela De Luca ,&nbsp;Antonio Caldarelli ,&nbsp;Roberto Russo ,&nbsp;Tejal Chandrakant Gawade ,&nbsp;Parthasarathi Bera ,&nbsp;Harish C. Barshilia","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113459","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tantalum and Tantalum Carbide (TaC) thin films are fabricated using pulsed DC magnetron sputtering from a Ta target in an argon-acetylene (C₂H₂) environment at room temperature. Precise control of the TaC_x film composition was achieved, with minimal impact on the films’ structure, morphology, and optical properties observed when varying C₂H₂ gas concentrations, ensuring high reproducibility rate. Ellipsometry analysis determined the complex refractive index of the TaCx films, enabling accurate reproduction of reflectivity spectra in both visible and infrared regions. As the knowledge of the refractive index is crucial for simulating optical structures, an optimised selective solar absorber (SSA) for use in concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) systems was designed. It comprises TaC and SiN layers on a tungsten substrate; hence, it is capable of withstanding high temperatures. It has a solar absorptance of 0.96 and a thermal efficiency higher than 0.9 at 900 °C and 0.85 at 1100 °C for incident angles up to 50 °C for a concentration factor of 1000. Its large acceptance angle offers significant potential for energy production through heliostats where the incident angle may vary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 113459"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143716080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of MoS2 and MoSe2 thin films in performance of new-generation CMTSe solar cells fabricated by a quasi-co-evaporation method","authors":"Behnam Talebi,&nbsp;Mehrdad Moradi","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113449","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper a new quasi-co-evaporation method is used to fabricate the absorber layer of CMTSe solar cells. The crystallographic and morphological properties of the fabricated layer are experimentally investigated by XRD and SEM-EDS analyses, while also studying the role of the intermediate layer formed on Mo/CMTSe surface using SCAPS-1D. The SEM and XRD results show integrated growth of the CMTSe absorber layer, showing a stannite crystal structure with optimal intensity, which indicates the achievement of phase-pure growth and crystal structure with the desired crystal quality and optimal composition. The crystallite size and lattice strain are calculated to be 60 nm and 0.8 % based on the Scherrer equation and applying the Williamson-Hall methods, respectively. The band gap of the CMTSe absorber layer is obtained to be 1.25 eV using Tauc plot derived from DRS analysis. By inserting structural parameters of the fabricated layer into the SCAPS-1D simulation, the role of MoS₂ and MoSe₂ interface layers in the solar cell performance is investigated. In general, while the n-type MoS₂ and MoSe₂ layers plays a destructive role in the cell performance, the p-type MoS₂ and MoSe₂ layers improve it by enhancing the internal field. The best parameters (V_oc: 0.75 V, J_sc: 45.23 mA/cm², FF: 76.2 %, and Eff: 26.1 %) are obtained for the solar cell with p-MoSe₂ interlayer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 113449"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143705113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}