Optimised Efficiency of Thin Film Photovoltaic Device

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics)

Basic and strategic applied research

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr R Gottschalg
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Loughborough University

Standard

EPSRC

01 October 2004

30 September 2009

60 months

£263,886

Energy

East Midlands

Engineering Fellowships -- Materials, Mechanical and Medical Eng

Dr R Gottschalg, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Loughborough University

The ARF will develop a three imensional model based on distributed diode characteristics for all currently commercialised thin film device structures. The initial focus will be on micromorph and CdTe devices without a metallic back contact. A novel measurementapparatus will be built specifically to measure of these distributed diode characteristics. The model be used to investigate the well known difference of laboratory efficiency and realistic outdoor operating efficiency. A separation of the environmental effects will be possible and an optimisation of device structurescan be carried out for energy yield. This will address the most pressing issue of thin film photovoltaics: the high cost of electricity generation. Collaborating with internationally leading research institutes will ensure scientific relevance. The existing LBIC system will be extended to allow the investigation of integrally interconnected multi-junction devices. Critically, it will be able to measure each junction in a multi-junction separately. The measurement science will be developed that localised I-V measurements can be taken. Close relationship with manufacturers will allow to develop new algorithms for the identification of production problems and ensure a speedy dissemination

01/01/07