{"title":"The Effect of Physical Parameters on the Optical Properties of Type II Core-Shell ZnO/ZnTe Micropillar Solar Cell","authors":"Amal Kabalan, Sadia Binte Sohid","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.9198983","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.9198983","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents a study on the effects of the physical parameters (height, pitch and diameter) of the micropillar on the optical performance of type-II core-shell ZnO/ZnTe micropillar solar cell. The optical performance (absorption, transmission, reflection) of 3-D periodic cylindrical pillar structured ZnO/ZnTe solar cell has been analyzed using Lumerical FDTD solver. Micropillar solar cells are of two types (axial and radial) in terms of the formation of the p-n junction. Comparison of the optical performance between ZnO/ZnTe micropillars and conventional ZnO/ZnTe solar cell has been conducted. The results reveal an increase of light absorption at higher-wavelength regime and a significant reduction in light reflection over the entire wavelength regime for the type-II coreshell (radial) ZnO/ZnTe micropillar solar cell. The effect of the physical parameters (height, pitch, and diameter) of the type –II core shell ZnO/ZnTe micropillar on the optical performance of the device has been further studied. Pillar height of 4 m results in highest degree of absorption (> 80%). As for the pitch, we observe a non-monotonic response. The optimum zone has been identified as 0.2 μm < pitch < 0.6 μm. A shell thickness of 70 nm leads to highest level of absorption within the lower wavelength (< 500 nm) of the relevant spectrum.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"6 1","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78627698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Pelaez, C. Deline, J. Stein, B. Marion, Kevin Anderson, M. Muller
{"title":"Effect of torque-tube parameters on rear-irradiance and rear-shading loss for bifacial PV performance on single-axis tracking systems","authors":"S. Pelaez, C. Deline, J. Stein, B. Marion, Kevin Anderson, M. Muller","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.9198975","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.9198975","url":null,"abstract":"The emergence of cost-competitive bifacial PV modules has raised the question of the additional value of bifacial 1-axis tracking arrays, in particular when considering rear-irradiance losses from the tracker system itself. In this work, the effect of different geometries and materials of torque tubes is evaluated through ray-trace simulations and found to cause rear irradiance shading factors between 2% to 8% for systems without gap between the modules in 2-UP configuration. Inclusion of a gap between the modules can offset the shading factor. Electrical mismatch is also evaluated for the various configurations, and a methodology to apply shading factor and electrical mismatch loss to rear irradiance from the calculated loss in DC power, which averages 1% for the systems explored here, is proposed.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"92 1","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83083966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raymond J. Wieser, Yu Wang, A. Fairbrother, Sophia Napoli, S. Julien, Adam W. Hauser, Liang Ji, Kai-tai Wan, G. O'brien, R. French, M. Kempe, X. Gu, K. Boyce, L. Bruckman
{"title":"Characterization of Real-world and Accelerated Exposed PV Module Backsheet Degradation","authors":"Raymond J. Wieser, Yu Wang, A. Fairbrother, Sophia Napoli, S. Julien, Adam W. Hauser, Liang Ji, Kai-tai Wan, G. O'brien, R. French, M. Kempe, X. Gu, K. Boyce, L. Bruckman","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.9198979","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.9198979","url":null,"abstract":"Backsheet degradation is key to maintaining the lifetime of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Cracking, delamination, bubbling, and discoloration are main types of degradation. PV modules were collected from PV installations in multiple climatic zones. Multiple types of backsheets were obtained with poly(ethylene teraphlate) (PET) and polyamide air side layers being the largest number of backsheets retrieved. Multiple commercial PV backsheets were exposed to multiple accelerated exposures and key degradation mechanisms were identified. Polyamide backsheets showed cracking in retrieved modules and under accelerated exposures. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) showed the highest stability in retrieved and accelerated exposures. While polyamide had the largest amount of large scale degradation.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"9 1","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87934516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Scheiman, J. Lorentzen, W. Yoon, R. Hoheisel, P. Jenkins
{"title":"Wing Integrated Solar Array Performance Study Using Photoluminescence","authors":"D. Scheiman, J. Lorentzen, W. Yoon, R. Hoheisel, P. Jenkins","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981203","url":null,"abstract":"Flight endurance and power are limiting factors affecting UAV applications today due to battery weight and capacity. Solar arrays integrated into the wing surface can provide additional power dependent on the sun, weight, wing area, and efficiency, and have demonstrated more than doubled flight times. With most wing surfaces having some degree of curvature and flexure during flight, stresses can be induced on the solar arrays. Photoluminescence is used to assess wing stresses by optically identifying crack propagation in the cells. NRL has built a variety of wings for UAVs from solar cell technologies. This paper intends to provide a demonstration of using this technique to study solar cell cracking through the array assembly process from wing integration to flight.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"50 1","pages":"2774-2777"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73567847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Outdoor Testing of c-Si Photovoltaic Modules with Spectrally-Selective Mirrors for Operating Temperature Reduction","authors":"I. Slauch, M. Deceglie, T. Silverman, V. Ferry","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981160","url":null,"abstract":"The efficiency of a c-Si cell drops with increasing cell temperature. A typical photovoltaic module with a c-Si cell will operate 20-30K above ambient temperature. Spectrally-selective photonic mirrors which reflect sub-bandgap light can reduce waste heat generated by parasitic absorption in the module and reduce module operating temperature. Here, a spectrally selective 4-layer and 12-layer mirror are designed and fabricated on module cover glass. When integrated into modules, these mirrors reduce the operating temperature of the module by 0.16K and 1.5K, respectively when compared to a module with bare outer glass.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"296 1","pages":"0112-0117"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73656111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P. Caño, M. Hinojosa, L. Cifuentes, H. Nguyen, A. Morgan, D. F. Marrón, I. García, Andrew J. Johnson, I. Rey‐Stolle
{"title":"Hybrid III-V/SiGe solar cells on Si substrates and porous Si substrates","authors":"P. Caño, M. Hinojosa, L. Cifuentes, H. Nguyen, A. Morgan, D. F. Marrón, I. García, Andrew J. Johnson, I. Rey‐Stolle","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981138","url":null,"abstract":"A tandem GaAsP/SiGe solar cell has been developed employing group-IV reverse buffer layers grown on silicon substrates with a subsurface porous layer. Reverse buffer layers facilitate a reduction in the threading dislocation density with limited thicknesses, but ease the appearance of cracks, as observed in previous designs grown on regular Si substrates. In this new design, a porous silicon layer has been incorporated close to the substrate surface. The ductility of this layer helps repress the propagation of cracks, diminishing the problems of low shunt resistance and thus improving solar cell performance. The first results of this new architecture are presented here.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"3 1","pages":"2513-2518"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73747740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"PV Plant Performance Loss Rate Assessment: Significance of Data Filtering and Aggregation","authors":"Bijaya Paudyal, M. Bolen, D. Fregosi","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981247","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981247","url":null,"abstract":"The performance loss rate (PLR) of a PV plant - comprised of reversible and irreversible (a.k.a., degradation) reduction to power nameplate - is a key parameter for predicting long-term energy production, informing the levelized cost of electricity calculations, and benchmarking PV plant performance. Analyzing plant power production data over time is a common and practical method to calculate the performance loss rate of a PV plant. Studies to date have used various data filtering and aggregation criteria, which affects the PLR, makes it difficult to compare reported literature values, and to benchmark plant performance. This paper presents a sensitivity analysis of the impact of various data filtering and aggregation choices on the calculated PLR using power production values from an 8.4-MWac PV plant. Findings indicate the need for industry consensus on appropriate best practices for calculating and reporting PLR, including data filtering and aggregation criteria.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"48 1","pages":"0866-0869"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75786988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuwei Zhang, Yang Chen, L. Hrachowina, C. Sundvall, I. Åberg, M. Borgström
{"title":"UV exposure: a novel processing method to fabricate nanowire solar cells","authors":"Yuwei Zhang, Yang Chen, L. Hrachowina, C. Sundvall, I. Åberg, M. Borgström","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8980764","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8980764","url":null,"abstract":"We demonstrate a novel and rapid method for nanowire (NW) solar cell processing. NW arrays were embedded in photoresist. The strong absorption of light in the NWs leads to self-limited exposure of the resist, which enables selective removal of the exposed part of the resist, opening up for the tips of the NWs and further processing. The UV-exposure technology allows a fast and low-cost process compared to the conventional reactive ion etching method.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"16 1","pages":"2646-2648"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74425753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rekha R. Schnepf, Aaron D. Martinez, J. Mangum, L. Schelhas, E. Toberer, A. Tamboli
{"title":"Disorder-tunable ZnGeP2 for epitaxial top cells on Si","authors":"Rekha R. Schnepf, Aaron D. Martinez, J. Mangum, L. Schelhas, E. Toberer, A. Tamboli","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8980697","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8980697","url":null,"abstract":"There has been a longstanding search for top cell materials for Si-based tandems. ZnGeP2 is one material that could fit this need. It is lattice matched to Si and has the potential for tuning its band gap at fixed lattice constant via cation ordering. In this study, we investigate the effects of growth and annealing conditions on the structure of ZnGeP2 thin films. Films were deposited amorphous and then annealed ex-situ. Using low anneal temperatures or short anneal times, we were able to kinetically trap the disordered phase. We also found composition to play a role in the degree of ordering in our films. Our findings support the hypothesis that ZnGeP2 could be implemented as a material with tunable properties at fixed lattice constant through cation ordering.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"3 1","pages":"1052-1055"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75522663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
H. Parikh, J. Vedde, S. Spataru, D. Sera, Gisele A. dos Reis Benatto, P. Poulsen, Claire Mantel, Søren Forchhammer, Michael Larsen, Kenn H. B. Frederiksen
{"title":"A Photovoltaic Module Diagnostic Setup for Lock-in Electroluminescence Imaging","authors":"H. Parikh, J. Vedde, S. Spataru, D. Sera, Gisele A. dos Reis Benatto, P. Poulsen, Claire Mantel, Søren Forchhammer, Michael Larsen, Kenn H. B. Frederiksen","doi":"10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981255","url":null,"abstract":"Electroluminescence (EL) imaging and infrared (IRT) thermography techniques have become indispensable tools in recent years for health diagnostic of photovoltaic modules in solar industry application. We propose a diagnostic setup, which performs lock-in EL for accurate analysis of different types of faults occurring in a solar module. The setup is built around a high-speed SWIR camera, which can acquire images at very short integration time (1µs) and high frame rate (301 fps). In addition, a state-of-the-art imaging chamber allows for introducing controlled levels of ambient light noise for developing new light noise removal methods, rotation of panel frame in 3 axes plane for developing perspective distortion correction techniques. The paper also gives an insight of different system and communication delays that affects the performance of overall EL lock-in imaging system integration. The purpose of the diagnostic setup is to support research in PV failure quantification through EL imaging, which can also be useful for aerial drone imaging of PV plants.","PeriodicalId":6749,"journal":{"name":"2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)","volume":"2014 1","pages":"0538-0543"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73989837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}