Solar Energy

Advanced material science enhances silicon solar cell efficiency

Published

3 months ago

March 14, 2024

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Advanced material science enhances silicon solar cell efficiency

by Riko Seibo

Ishikawa, Japan (SPX) Mar 11, 2024

As global efforts to combat climate change intensify, advancements in solar energy technology have become crucial. Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells are at the forefront of these developments, promising high energy conversion efficiencies. The performance of these cells largely relies on the quality of the passivation layer-a thin film that plays a pivotal role in preventing the recombination of light-excited charge carriers, such as electrons.

The Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) has been pioneering in addressing the optimization of this crucial layer through catalytic chemical vapor deposition (Cat-CVD). This technique is noted for its gentle deposition process, which avoids substrate damage, a common issue with plasma-based methods. Yet, the challenge has been the complex set of variable parameters involved in Cat-CVD, such as substrate temperature, gas flow rates, and deposition time, making the quest for optimal conditions time-consuming and arduous.

A groundbreaking study published on February 21, 2024, in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, led by Professor Keisuke Ohdaira alongside co-authors Ryota Ohashi, Huynh Thi Cam Tu, Koichi Higashimine from JAIST, and Dr. Kentaro Kutsukake from RIKEN, introduced an efficient strategy to streamline this process. Their approach harnesses the power of Bayesian optimization (BO), a machine learning method adept at maximizing unknown functions, tailored to navigate the intricate variables of Cat-CVD.

Bayesian optimization operates by analyzing a set of known conditions and their outcomes, then predicting optimal conditions not yet tested. This iterative process gradually hones in on the most effective settings. However, applying BO to Cat-CVD is nuanced due to potential operational issues like excessive film thickness or unfeasible combinations of gas flow rates and equipment capacity.

To circumvent these hurdles, the team devised a “constrained BO” strategy, integrating three distinct predictive models. These models assessed the deposited film’s performance, deposition pressure based on gas inputs, and regulated film thickness concerning deposition time. Starting with an initial dataset of 14 samples, they achieved significant advancements in carrier lifetimes after just eight optimization cycles, with full optimization realized after twenty cycles. This method uncovered new parameter combinations previously unconsidered, notably linking substrate temperature and precursor gas flow rate to minimized carrier recombination.

The implications of this research extend beyond solar cell performance, illustrating the versatility of constrained BO in optimizing material processes critical in electronic device fabrication. This approach not only identifies optimal deposition conditions but also enriches scientific understanding, potentially impacting a broad spectrum of manufacturing processes and sustainable energy solutions.

Professor Ohdaira’s reflections on the study underscore its significance: “Our research not only streamlines the optimization of Cat-CVD parameters but also enhances the understanding of material properties essential for high-efficiency solar cells. This advancement is a leap forward in sustainable technology, offering insights that could revolutionize the production of electronic devices and contribute to global efforts against climate change.”

This breakthrough in material science and optimization heralds a new era in solar energy technology, promising improved efficiencies and a sustainable path forward in the fight against climate change. The work of JAIST researchers paves the way for broader applications of BO, highlighting its potential to unlock efficiencies in various fields, from electronic device manufacture to other renewable energy technologies.

Research Report:High Passivation Performance of Cat-CVD i-a-Si:H Derived from Bayesian Optimization with Practical Constraints

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Solar Energy

Solar investment outstrips all other power forms: IEA

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2024

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Solar investment outstrips all other power forms: IEA

by AFP Staff Writers

Paris (AFP) June 6, 2024

More money is pouring into solar power than all other electricity sources combined, with investments set to reach half a trillion dollars this year, the world’s top energy research body said Thursday.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast in a report that global investment in clean energy this year will hit $2 trillion, twice the amount going to fossil fuels.

It said combined investment in renewable power and grids overtook the amount spent on fossil fuels for the first time in 2023.

“Clean energy investment is setting new records even in challenging economic conditions, highlighting the momentum behind the new global energy economy,” IEA executive director Fatih Birol said in a statement accompanying the agency’s annual World Energy Investment report.

Companies and governments worldwide are raising spending on clean energy production to reduce the carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels that are driving deadly climate change.

The report said improving supply chains and lower costs were driving up investment in forms of so-called clean energy, which include solar panels, wind turbines, electric cars and heat pumps, as well as nuclear power generation.

Combined investment in renewables and nuclear for electricity generation is now set to reach 10 times the amount going to fossil-fuel power, led by solar, with China investing the biggest share.

“More money is now going into solar PV (photovoltaic panels) than all other electricity generation technologies combined,” the report said.

Solar panel costs have decreased by 30 percent over the past two years and in 2024 “investment in solar PV is set to grow to $500 billion as falling module prices spur new investments.”

By comparison, global upstream oil and gas investment is expected to increase by seven percent in 2024 to reach $570 billion, following a similar rise in 2023.

The IEA warned however of “major imbalances and shortfalls in energy investment flows in many parts of the world” where clean energy projects remain prohibitively expensive.

Excluding renewable energy giant China, the $300 billion invested by emerging and developing economies remained “far below what is required to meet growing energy demand in many of these countries”.

“More must be done to ensure that investment reaches the places where it is needed most,” Birol said.

The IEA said that meeting medium-term global goals to reduce harmful carbon emissions would require investment in renewable power to be doubled worldwide by 2030.

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Solar Energy

Atlas reveals solar energy potential in Germany

Published

3 days ago

June 6, 2024

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Atlas reveals solar energy potential in Germany

by Robert Schreiber

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Jun 06, 2024

Which roofs are suitable for solar panel installations? Where are photovoltaic systems already in place? How much output could be achieved with solar panel arrays at specific locations? A map developed by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) provides the answers. DLR’s researchers used machine learning methods to process current aerial photographs and geodata, enabling them to determine solar energy potential for the entire stock in Germany of around 20 million buildings. Results for the whole country are publicly available at eosolar.dlr.de.

The Solar Atlas is being presented at ILA in Berlin, where DLR is showcasing its research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport, digitalisation and security.

“Policy makers need precise information on the current inventory and growth potential in order to devise and implement effective strategies for expanding photovoltaic systems on roofs,” explains Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chair of the DLR Executive Board.

“The satellite-derived information provided by DLR supports the energy transition and drives forward innovative products and business models. The DLR Solar Atlas shows how Earth observation can be used successfully for climate protection and the sustainable expansion of energy generation.”

Multiple terabytes of data evaluated

Within the framework of the EO Solar project, researchers from the DLR Earth Observation Center (EOC) are evaluating and combining several terabytes of data from various sources to outline the current situation in Germany. These include digital, distortion-free aerial photographs with a resolution of 20 centimetres and high-quality surface models with a resolution of one metre, provided by the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy.

“To evaluate the current expansion potential for solar energy, we calculate the possible electrical output based on the hours of sunshine, radiation intensity, orientation of roof surfaces and shading from neighbouring buildings or vegetation,” says Annekatrin Metz-Marconcini, who heads the EO Solar project.

“DLR has also developed a process using artificial intelligence that enables us to identify roofs with existing solar panels anywhere in the world based on high-resolution remote sensing data. In Germany, we have included the Core Energy Market Data Register in the information that we use.” The Core Energy Market Data Register lists all registered German solar panel installations and is updated on a daily basis.

Rather than building models, EO Solar uses digital terrain models, including those generated with the help of aircraft and satellites. These models automatically take account of shading from trees and the surrounding area, and the process can be extended to countries that do not have building models. Other than the roofs of buildings, the solar energy potential of open spaces can also be calculated using the same methodology and then taken into account for planning purposes.

Solar potential identified for municipalities, districts and federal states

Existing solar panel registers for federal states, districts or municipalities often differ in the level of information included, may lack detail or be limited to certain areas. By contrast, the DLR Solar Atlas provides an up-to-date, systematic mapping of the whole of Germany and as such offers policy makers and planners alike a basis for promoting the targeted expansion of photovoltaic systems.

DLR researchers have already created a similar map for Austria as part of an ESA project. For data protection reasons, it is not possible to map solar expansion potential for individual buildings on a publicly available website in Germany, so the expansion potential is shown at municipal, district or federal state level. The publicly accessible website eosolar.dlr.de has recently been set up for this purpose.

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Solar Energy

Some countries could meet electricity needs with floating solar panels, research shows

Published

3 days ago

June 5, 2024

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Some countries could meet electricity needs with floating solar panels, research shows

by Sophie Jenkins

London, UK (SPX) Jun 05, 2024

Floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) panels could supply all the electricity needs of some countries, according to new research. The study by Bangor and Lancaster Universities and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology evaluated the global potential for low-carbon floating solar arrays. Researchers calculated daily electrical output from FPV on nearly 68,000 lakes and reservoirs worldwide, using climate data for each location.

The study focused on lakes and reservoirs likely to support floating solar technology, which are within 10 km of a population center, not in protected areas, and don’t dry up or freeze for more than six months each year. Researchers based their calculations on FPV covering 10% of surface areas, up to 30 km.

Potential annual electricity generation from FPV on these lakes is 1302 terawatt hours (TWh), about four times the UK’s total annual electricity demand. The findings are published in Nature Water.

FPV systems offer several advantages over land-based solar installations, including freeing up land for other uses and keeping panels cooler for better efficiency. There is also evidence for additional environmental benefits, such as reducing water evaporation and limiting algal blooms. However, further research is needed on FPV’s overall environmental impact, and deployment decisions should consider the intended function of water bodies and potential ecological impacts.

Lead author Dr. Iestyn Woolway of Bangor University said, “We still don’t know exactly how floating panels might affect the ecosystem within a natural lake, in different conditions and locations. But the potential gain in energy generation from FPV is clear, so we need to put that research in place so this technology can be safely adopted. We chose 10% of a lake’s surface area as a likely safe level of deployment, but that might need to be reduced in some situations, or could be higher in others.”

The research shows five nations, including Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, could meet their entire electricity needs from FPV. Others, such as Bolivia and Tonga, could meet 87% and 92% of their demand. Many countries, particularly in Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and Central Asia, could meet 40% to 70% of their electricity needs through FPV. In Europe, Finland could meet 17% and Denmark 7% of their demand.

The UK could generate 2.7 TWh annually from FPV, enough to power around one million homes. The UK’s largest FPV installation is a 6.3 MW floating solar farm on the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir near London.

Dr. Woolway added, “Even with the criteria we set to create a realistic scenario for deployment of FPV, there are benefits across the board, mainly in lower income countries with high levels of sunshine, but also in Northern European countries as well. The criteria we chose were based on obvious exclusions, such as lakes in protected areas, but also on what might reduce the cost and risks of deployment.”

Co-author Professor Alona Armstrong of Lancaster University said, “Our work shows there is much potential for FPV around the world. But deployments need to be strategic, considering the consequences for energy security, nature and society, as well as Net Zero.”

The research is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.

Research Report:Decarbonisation potential of floating solar photovoltaics on lakes worldwide