Technological improvement in Solar performance (1 Viewer)

[two]

Today's panels can only capture around 22% of the energy available to them.
A recent publication claims that this can be doubled.
Follow this link

 

[Gromett]

That is a multi-junction solar cell.. EXPENSIVE!!!!!

The maximum theoretical efficiency for a single junction cell of the type we use is 33% and is called the Shockley–Queisser limit.

So whenever I see a claim of double the solar efficiency I am always sceptical.

I am always on the lookout for a new article or research paper that finds a new and inexpensive way to produce multi-junction solar cells.

 

[Gromett]

Oops. Thought I had better give a link to the Shockley–Queisser limit. Just in case you think I am making it up

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[olley]

We wouldn't think that grom.

 

[two]

That is a multi-junction solar cell.. EXPENSIVE!!!!!

True. For the time being, it would be simpler to double the number of panels, as long as you have the space.
One day there may be alternatives, however, just as we may be dispensing with the Lead in our batteries...

 

[Gromett]

True. For the time being, it would be simpler to double the number of panels, as long as you have the space.
One day there may be alternatives, however, just as we may be dispensing with the Lead in our batteries...

For the time being yes. I live in hope for a breakthrough on multi-junction panels to bring the price down to parity with single-junction ones we use today.

When ever a post about double the solar power crops up I get excited for a second until I remember this.....

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[DBK]

Sadly, waiting for our sun to go supernova for extra output from your solar panel isn't going to work either. It will just melt I fear - in about five billion years.
http://chandra.harvard.edu/resources/faq/sources/snr/snr-31.html

 

[Richard n Ann]

Sadly, waiting for our sun to go supernova for extra output from your solar panel isn't going to work either. It will just melt I fear - in about five billion years.
http://chandra.harvard.edu/resources/faq/sources/snr/snr-31.html

I wonder if in 5 billion years nuclear fusion will be 20 years away

 

[autorouter]

That is a multi-junction solar cell.. EXPENSIVE!!!!!

Another problem is it doesn't use the Silicon PN junction technology that is now so cheap to produce, because of some unique advantages that silicon has.

It's a combination of GaAs (gallium arsenide) and GaSb (gallium antimonide). The GaSb captures the spectral range that the GaAs lets through.

These kinds of semiconductor are commonly used in small devices like LEDs and sensors, and specialist high-speed circuits like military radar and satellites. I don't think they will be cheap enough to use large-scale for many years if at all. But no doubt useful where weight-saving is critical, like satellites, aerospace etc.

But who knows? I remember saying exactly the same thing about 'moving map displays' and 'optical masers'.

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[wizzer59]

Another problem is it doesn't use the Silicon PN junction technology that is now so cheap to produce, because of some unique advantages that silicon has.

It's a combination of GaAs (gallium arsenide) and GaSb (gallium antimonide). The GaSb captures the spectral range that the GaAs lets through.

These kinds of semiconductor are commonly used in small devices like LEDs and sensors, and specialist high-speed circuits like military radar and satellites. I don't think they will be cheap enough to use large-scale for many years if at all. But no doubt useful where weight-saving is critical, like satellites, aerospace etc.

But who knows? I remember saying exactly the same thing about 'moving map displays' and 'optical masers'.

Wow look at that go! So high over my head

 

[jongood]

We re currently looking at these for our new house build.

http://www.bipvco.com/products/

They are a division of Tata. We saw them at Peterborough and at Stoneleigh for motorhome application and got talking so we re now going to see their demo unit at Swansea uni (primarily for the house).

They claim much better low light performance and durability and because they are not made of glass as such ( regular semi flexibles are) and they come ready bonded to a standing seam roof panels so they re better visually.

Jon

 

[Geo]

Another problem is it doesn't use the Silicon PN junction technology that is now so cheap to produce, because of some unique advantages that silicon has.

It's a combination of GaAs (gallium arsenide) and GaSb (gallium antimonide). The GaSb captures the spectral range that the GaAs lets through.

These kinds of semiconductor are commonly used in small devices like LEDs and sensors, and specialist high-speed circuits like military radar and satellites. I don't think they will be cheap enough to use large-scale for many years if at all. But no doubt useful where weight-saving is critical, like satellites, aerospace etc.

But who knows? I remember saying exactly the same thing about 'moving map displays' and 'optical masers'.

Thats what I thought

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[Badknee]

Another problem is it doesn't use the Silicon PN junction technology that is now so cheap to produce, because of some unique advantages that silicon has.

It's a combination of GaAs (gallium arsenide) and GaSb (gallium antimonide). The GaSb captures the spectral range that the GaAs lets through.

These kinds of semiconductor are commonly used in small devices like LEDs and sensors, and specialist high-speed circuits like military radar and satellites. I don't think they will be cheap enough to use large-scale for many years if at all. But no doubt useful where weight-saving is critical, like satellites, aerospace etc.

But who knows? I remember saying exactly the same thing about 'moving map displays' and 'optical masers'.

Yeh, I knew that............... honest

 

[two]

Some interesting responses above. They demonstrate the diversity of knowledge, experience and interest that can be found on this forum.

 

[TheCaller]

Some interesting responses above. They demonstrate the diversity of knowledge, experience and interest that can be found on this forum.

Indeed. It's reassuring to know that when some snake oil salesman is trying to flog you the latest improvement to sliced bread, someone on here will have the in depth knowledge of the latest bread making technology to evaluate whether what you are being told has any basis in fact.

Applies equally to media reports as well.

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[autorouter]

Errr, epic fail...just because they use big words doesn't mean they're right.

I don't think they will be cheap enough to use large-scale for many years if at all.

The BiPVCo system in Jon's link uses Copper Indium Gallium Selenide, which is more or less what I was talking about. Available now.

It's fused directly onto the sheet metal. Sounds like this process is exactly what's needed for making a solar motorhome roof. Now if they could just make it multi-junction too...

As Yogi Berra might have said, It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.

 

[Gromett]

The BiPVCo system in Jon's link uses Copper Indium Gallium Selenide, which is more or less what I was talking about. Available now

I have been following CIGS and other types of thin film panels for a while as they are light weight and in theory should be much cheaper to produce. However the efficiencies in the real world last time I looked were below that of mono crystalline but were at around the poly crystaline level. This means you need bigger panels to get the same amount of power. On houses an extra couple of square feet needed for the same power but at a lower cost is not too much of an issue. However for a motorhome where you can fit 1, 2 or possibly only 3 you want to maximise the power you get out. For me the thin film deposition method isn't there yet for us motorhomers due to price and Watts/square meter.

I haven't really looked at it for a while and there haven't been any articles on any of the science sites I monitor recently. So unless something has changed I won't be looking at any of the thin film deposition modules just yet.