Digital ceramic printing on glass is explored as a solution to “camouflage” crystalline silicon-based solar cells in order to improve the visual appearance of c-Si PV modules for building-integrated photovoltaics; however, printing on the front glass reduces the light transmittance and, thus, affects the module performance. By combining experiments and regression modeling, we quantify the effect of

Although common practice for estimating photovoltaic (PV) degradation rate ( RD ) assumes a linear behavior, field data have shown that degradation rates are frequently nonlinear. This article presents a new methodology to detect and calculate nonlinear RD based on PV performance time-series from nine different systems over an eight-year period. Prior to performing the analysis and in order to adjust

The work presented here uses a novel photovoltaic (PV) parameter extraction method that uses the generalized per-unit single-diode model (PUSDM) of a PV module. In the first extraction stage, the PUSDM is approximated as an explicit nonlinear model (EXNLM). The EXNLM utilizes the experimental current–voltage ( I–V ) data of a PV module to estimate initial guesses. The second stage exploits the PUSDM

The proper monitoring and operation and maintenance (O&M) of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are an integral part of the service tasks required to ensure long-term reliability and prolonged lifetime of the installation. In the recent years, with the end of the feed-in-tariff legislation, the PV stakeholders and operators shifted their focus from the design and construction of utility-scale grid-connected

Radio frequency facing target sputtering (RF-FTS) has a potential to deposit high-quality intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon (i-a-Si:H) passivation layers for silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells without using hazardous gases. We investigated the effect of superimposed dc power on the deposition of i-a-Si:H by RF-FTS to improve the deposition rate. The i-a-Si:H layer deposited by dc-superimposed

A potential-induced degradation (PID) test method for bifacial double-glass silicon modules is first recommended for studying PID effects at the particular side of interest (the front or rear). This could be achieved by maintaining the same electric potential between solar cells and the untargeted module surface. Using the recommended test method, PID effects on the rear of n-type bifacial passivated

Titania (TiO x ) is re-emerging to be a passivating material for the surfaces of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells. Numerous sources in the literature suggest that the surface passivation and thermal stability of TiO x deteriorates with increasing film thickness when the TiO x film is thicker than a sufficient thickness. To circumvent this limitation, this study presents a novel process

We investigated the formation of photovoltaic (PV) devices using direct n-Si/MAPI (methylammonium lead tri-iodide) two-sided heterojunctions for the first time (as a possible alternative to two-terminal tandem devices) in which charge might be generated and collected from both the Si and MAPI. Test structures were used to establish that the n-Si/MAPI junction was photoactive and that spiro-OMeTAD acted

To improve silicon heterojunction solar cells even further, minimizing transport losses within the charge carrier selective junctions and layers is mandatory. With this in mind, we present a systematic quantification of the transport losses of the electron (contact resistivity, ρc ≈ 30 mΩ·cm²) and hole ( ρc ≈ 240 mΩ·cm²) contact of our silicon heterojunctions, which enable fill factors above 80% on

Silicon surface passivation by gallium oxide (Ga 2 O 3 ) thin films deposited by thermal- and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (ALD) over a broad temperature range from 75 °C to 350 °C is investigated. In addition, the role of oxidant (O 3 or O-plasma) pulse lengths insufficient for saturated ALD-growth is studied. The material properties are analyzed including the quantification of the incorporated

Field-effect solar cells (FESCs) are increasingly attractive for 2-D heterojunction solar cells and especially for gate-tunable Schottky-junction solar cells. A prerequisite for applying FESCs is that the gate-leakage (GL) power must be far less than the output power. However, the conduction mechanism of the GL current in a FESC has yet to be described clearly, thereby leading to excessive gate power

Black silicon (B-Si) has been extensively applied in the photovoltaic field for its prominent light-trapping feature, but its large surface area also brings plenty of structural defects. In this article, a postetching treatment by using acid mixed solution consisted of HNO 3 /HF/H 2 O was adopted to balance the tradeoff between optical gain and electrical losses on metal-catalyzed chemical etching

In recent years, the incorporation of hydrogen into indium and zinc oxide based TCOs has been recognized as an effective technique to improve the charge carrier mobility and hereby to relax the transparency-conductivity tradeoff within the thin films. On the other hand, the process sequence of poly-Si/SiO x based contacts typically requires an extra rehydrogenation step in order to improve the chemical

We have studied lifetime instabilities in p -type boron-doped mono-like silicon during light soaking (LS) and dark annealing (DA) at different temperatures, and their behavior upon LS/DA cycling at various degradation and regeneration stages. Despite having similar capture cross section ratios, it is found that the defects responsible for the degradation under illumination and in the dark could stem

Light trapping and current losses are critical factors for the performance of a solar cell. The analysis of the light trapping is generally carried out by the optical path length and back reflectance estimations using the inverse internal quantum efficiency (IQE) approach or the simulation methods. Simulation tools, such as PC1D or wafer ray tracers, provide an improved estimation as compared with

Wire on well (WoW) structure, which is formed on a vicinal substrate, has been under consideration for a bandgap adjustor of multijunction cells. The photocurrent of a single-junction cell containing WoW is higher than that of a cell containing planar superlattice (PSL). This work provides direct evidence for the superiority of WoW over PSL in terms of the transport of photogenerated carriers. The

Cost-effective, parallel grids embedded dye-sensitized solar mini-modules were fabricated successfully by utilizing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and rGO-silver (rGO-Ag) nanocomposites as grid current collectors. The pure rGO grids embedded dye-sensitized solar mini-module showed a maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.10% with improved fill factor, circumvented iodide/triiodide electrolyte corrosion

A creative application of using HAT-CN as a hole modification layer (HML) in positive perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is demonstrated herein. This measure successfully improves the performance of devices in many aspects. Although HAT-CN owns a similar position of Fermi level with MoO 3 , there have been proved to be a much smoother interface. The devices using HAT-CN had a higher Voc at 1.10 V over 1

This article aims to present a novel mono-dimensional multilayer mathematical model apt to estimate the temperature of photovoltaic (PV) cells for both monofacial and bifacial PV modules. A dynamic three-layer model (3L-NM) has been developed, in which the contribution of solar radiation that hits the back of the PV module is included. The model is constituted by energy balance equations, one for each

With the recent widespread deployment of Photovoltaic (PV) panels in the northern snow-prone areas, performance analysis of these panels is getting much more importance. Partial or full reduction in energy yield due to snow accumulation on the surface of PV panels, which is referred to as snow loss, reduces their operational efficiency. Developing intelligent algorithms to accurately predict the future

Accurate modeling of photovoltaic (PV) performance requires the precise calculation of module temperature. Currently, most temperature models rely on steady-state assumptions that do not account for the transient climatic conditions and thermal mass of the module. On the other hand, complex physics-based transient models are computationally expensive and difficult to parameterize. In order to address

This article presents a novel method for boundary extraction of photovoltaic (PV) plants using a fully convolutional network (FCN). Extracting the boundaries of PV plants is essential in the process of aerial inspection and autonomous monitoring by aerial robots. This method provides a clear delineation of the utility-scale PV plants’ boundaries for PV developers, operation and maintenance service

Similar to other high quality crystalline absorbers, an accurate knowledge of surface passivation of crystalline germanium (c-Ge) substrates is crucial for a straightforward improvement of photovoltaic device performance. For crystalline silicon devices, this information is typically obtained by quasi-steady-state photoconductance (QSS-PC) technique using Sinton WCT-120 tool. In this article, we explore

Different types of dual-junction solar cells (perovskite/silicon and GaInP/(Al)GaAs) are used in an investigation of measurement uncertainty for electrical characterization of multi-junction solar cells. A method traceable to international reference standards is presented. The spectral mismatch factor matrix is introduced and used with a Monte-Carlo method including manifold correlated and uncorrelated

We present a detailed case study of degradation in monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules operating in a utility-scale power plant over the course of approximately three years. We present the results of degradation analysis on arrays within the site, and find that five of the six arrays degraded faster than the best performing array, even though the arrays consist of modules of the same manufacturer

Encapsulant discoloration is a well-known field degradation mode of crystalline-silicon photovoltaic modules, particularly in the hot climate zones. The discoloration rate is influenced by several weathering factors, such as UV light, module temperature, and humidity, as well as the permeability of oxygen into the module. In this article, a rate dependence model employing the modified Arrhenius equations

In the present contribution, we have measured and simulated room temperature bias- and frequency-dependent capacitances of thin-film solar cell devices. The results of both the simulations and experimental measurements are represented as 2-D contour plots showing the derivative of the capacitance with respect to the frequency multiplied by the frequency. These plots are called “loss maps,” because

Due to the rapidly growing interest in energy harvesting from indoor ambient lighting for the powering of Internet-of-things devices, accurate methods for measurements of the current versus voltage characteristics of light-harvesting solar photovoltaic devices must be established and disseminated. A key requirement when conducting such characterizations is to create and measure the irradiance from

This article focuses on cleaning scheduling for photovoltaic (PV) systems in the field. A method to design cleaning schedules for PV strings is proposed to optimize the profit of a PV system over an extended period. Previous studies have usually focused solely on the cleaning frequency on experimental systems. Our method designs specific cleaning schedules for PV systems in the field based on the forecasting

Photovoltaic array produces massive running data, and such data are time series of strong coupling features with each other. In addition, photovoltaic output data has a strong fluctuating and nonlinear feature; it brings extra difficulty to photovoltaic array fault feature extraction and its fault diagnosis. To solve these problems, this article proposes a fault diagnosis method using the time series

Ambient particulate matter in urban environments is dynamic and heterogeneous; therefore, understanding photovoltaic energy loss due to soiling is challenging. Silicon reference cells were deployed in an urban-industrial area in Colorado colocated with measurements of ambient particulate matter concentrations. Regressing measured soiling ratios against cumulative sums of ambient coarse particulate

Solar photovoltaic (SPV) array does not give constant power output due to the adverse effects of various stresses over its performance. Dust is a critical affecting factor, especially in tropical, arid, and semiarid regions, as it reduces power output by lowering the transmittance of the glass cover. Usually, total dust accumulation on an SPV module goes through three processes viz., deposition, rebound

Solar energy plays an increasingly important role in new energy sources, the stable operation of photovoltaic (PV) generation system for the entire energy supply system is gradually highlighted. In this article, the fault types of PV modules are classified into temporary and permanent shadow faults. A fault feature based on the prediction error of PV output and a novel intelligent quantization fault

In this article, a new multiobjective algorithm is proposed for determining the optimal sizing and allocation of the photovoltaic (PV) systems in radial distribution systems. A Jaya algorithm is modified to find the optimal PV capacities for limited bus locations at the network. The proposed algorithm showed better performance against known techniques, and the results are presented. Besides, a new

The precursor reaction process for the fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se $_{2}$ solar cells potentially allows for low-cost fabrication and scalable processing for manufacturing. Additionally, this process has yielded record efficiencies in lab-scale experiments. Thus far, research on the precursor reaction method has been restricted to relatively low Ga compositions with Ga/(In+Ga) $\approx$ 25%. By increasing

The conversion efficiency of Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) solar cells is relatively low, due to the complicated intrinsic defects and the unsuitable contact interfaces. In this work, MoO 2 thin films prepared by a simple preannealing method are introduced to Mo/CZTSSe back contact interface. For the first time, it is found that MoO 2 acts as a sacrificial layer rather than the traditional intermediate

Presents the table of contents for this issue of the publication.

Presents a listing of the editorial board, board of governors, current staff, committee members, and/or society editors for this issue of the publication.

Flatbed screen printing is the dominating process in industry for metallization of silicon solar cells. It offers high throughput rates, high flexibility of printing pattern, and an overall very cost-effective production compared with other printing technologies. However, the ongoing demand for an optimization of printed silver electrode shape creates an increasing challenge to paste and screen development

In silicon heterojunction solar cells, optimization of the front transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer is required in order to minimize both electrical and optical losses. In this article, design guidelines for this overall power loss minimization are presented-extending previous TCO optimization work that was limited to the maximization of the short-circuit current density alone-and these are used

Passivating contacts created via a thin interfacial oxide and a highly doped polysilicon layer, e.g., the TOPCon technology, are on the verge of being implemented in solar cell mass production. Investment decisions rely on R&D to identify the most promising implementation option, meaning a trustworthy roadmap based on predicted performance gains. This article shows how to thoroughly quantify the performance

Minimizing transport losses in novel solar cell concepts is often linked to improvements at the transparent conductive oxide (TCO)/doped silicon contact. A detailed understanding of the determining factors for an efficient transport at this heterojunction is essential, such as work function matching and efficient tunneling transport. In this article, we analyze the different TCO contact parameters

Front surface texturization is a standard procedure used to improve optical properties of photovoltaic devices. In some particular cases, such as when dealing with ultrathin substrates, common texturization techniques can become unpractical or even unfeasible. Texturized polymer films applied on top of such devices may be used as an alternative. In this article, we report on the development of textured

To address three-terminal tandem solar cells composed of a back-contact-type Si bottom cell, which, in principle, has a tolerance against spectral variation, we fabricate the three-terminal GaAs/Si tandem device bonded using conductive metal nanoparticle arrays and measure the power extraction. A power equivalent to the sum of the power generated by the top and bottom subcells is extracted even under

Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cell device structures use carrier-selective contacts that enable efficient collection of majority carriers while impeding the collection of minority carriers. However, these contacts can also be a source of resistive losses that degrade the performance of the solar cell. In this article, we evaluate the performance of the carrier-selective hole contact- hydrogenated

In this article, we develop in parallel two fabrication methods for copper (Cu) electroplated contacts suitable for either silicon nitride or transparent conductive oxide antireflective coatings. We employ alternative seed layers, such as evaporated Ag or Ti, and optimize the Ti-Cu or Ag-Cu contacts with respect to uniformity of plating and aspect ratio of the final plated grid. Moreover, we test plating/deplating

In this article, high-efficiency n-Si interdigitated back contact solar cells (IBC) were fabricated with the perc-like process. The cell was demonstrated with the efficiency of 22.16% (cell area =10 × 10cm), open-circuit voltage of 685 mV, short-circuit current density of 41.21 mA/cm 2 , and fill factor of 78.48%. The low fill factor can be attributed to the high base recombination taking place under

This article introduces a postmetallization “passivated edge technology” (PET) treatment for separated silicon solar cells consisting of aluminum oxide deposition with subsequent annealing. We present our work on bifacial shingle solar cells that are based on the passivated emitter and rear cell concept. To separate the shingle devices after metallization and firing, we use either a conventional laser

In this article, we explore magnesium oxide (MgO) as electron-selective contact layer in silicon heterojunction solar cells. We report on the successful deposition of MgO layers by atomic layer deposition at low temperatures ≤200 °C using bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)magnesium (Mg(CpEt) 2 ) and H 2 O as precursors. Depositions were carried out on bare crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafers and c-Si wafers

This article investigates metallization-induced recombination losses associated with the presence of silicon (Si) in the 1) rear passivation layers and 2) aluminum (Al) paste in fully screen-printed p-type passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells. For 1), the rear sides of PERCs passivated with aluminum oxide films stacked with silicon nitride (SiN y ) films with various refractive indexes

The rapid rise in single-junction perovskite solar cell (PSC) efficiencies, tunable bandgap, and low-cost solution processability make PSCs an attractive candidate for tandems with Si bottom cells. However, the challenge is to fabricate a high-performance semitransparent perovskite top cell in combination with an appropriate silicon bottom cell with high response to long wavelength photons that are

Degradation and regeneration of recombination parameters can occur in the bulk and at the surfaces of silicon solar cells. This article focuses on the time-resolved analysis of the recombination properties of textured 1.7 Ω cm boron-doped p-type Cz-Si and 5 Ω cm phosphorus-doped n-type Cz-Si wafers, where the surfaces are passivated by n + poly-Si on interfacial oxide layers exposed to a rapid thermal

Crystalline solar cells have attracted significant attention in the solar-cell market owing to their low material cost. Multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) is usually fabricated using the casting method, and approximately 35% of Si is removed as kerf in the sawing process performed to fabricate the wafer. The fabrication of kerfless mc-Si wafers does not involve the sawing and growing process. Hence,

We evaluate a procedure that is meant to ensure a highly accurate alignment between laser-doped lines and either screen-printed metal contacts or laser contact openings (LCO) for subsequent galvanic plating of the metal contacts. For both process routes, we prove that the application of the procedure significantly increases the alignment accuracy, discusses potential error sources, and identifies the

In this article, the impact of postplating annealing on the regenerated state of boron-doped p-type passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells with plated Ni/Cu/Ag front-side contacts is characterized. The assessment of different plating annealing profiles in the temperature range of 200-300 °C and their impact on light-induced degradation as well as on additional defects are realized by lifetime

This article investigates the influence of crystallographic defects on the temperature sensitivity of multicrystalline silicon wafers. The thermal characteristics of the implied open-circuit voltage is assessed since it determines most of the total temperature sensitivity of the material. Spatially resolved temperature-dependent analysis is performed on wafers from various brick positions; intragrain

Effect of the band alignment on the performance of heterojunction p-i-n solar cell is investigated in the framework of one-dimensional transport model. An affinity-based approach is introduced in order to identify a set of material parameters and doping levels which would result in lower series resistance R 8 , higher open-circuit voltage V oc , and higher fill factor FF. The search reveals key ingredients

Intermediate band (IB) solar cells hold the promise of efficiency as high as triple-junction solar cells with much simpler cell design, containing only two semiconductor material interfaces. Although several IB materials have been demonstrated, no cells have shown promising efficiencies. Many of the fundamental required properties of IB materials are well known; they need strong subgap absorption,

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are promising structures with excellent photovoltaic properties for low-cost, high-efficiency solar cells and have the potential to overcome the limits of bulk silicon solar cells. There is still a need to enhance light absorption in SiNWs without increasing the surface area. Here, we introduce a novel design, hourglass-shaped silicon nanowire (HG-SiNW) to significantly increase

Impacts of reactor pressure and growth temperature on the qualities and properties of InGaP epitaxial layers grown in a narrow-channel horizontal metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) reactor were investigated with a growth rate of 10 μm/h. The roughness of InGaP was improved remarkably when the pressure was increased from 6 to 10 and 15 kPa. The reason is most likely related to the absolute pressure