Potential high efficiency solar cells: Applications from space PV research

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6433178

Flood, D J

NASA involvement in photovoltaic energy conversion research development and applications spans over two decades of continuous progress. Solar cell research and development programs conducted by the Lewis Research Center's Photovoltaic Branch have produced a sound technology base not only for the space program, but for terrestrial applications as well. The fundamental goals which have guided the NASA photovoltaic program are to improve the efficiency and lifetime, and to reduce the mass and cost of photovoltaic energy conversion devices and arrays for use in space. The major efforts in the current Lewis program are on high efficiency, single crystal GaAs planar and concentrator cells, radiation hard InP cells, and superlattice solar cells. A brief historical perspective of accomplishments in high efficiency space solar cells is given, and current work in all of the above categories are described. The applicability of space cell research and technology to terrestrial photovoltaics is discussed.

• Research Organization: NASA, Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135
• OSTI ID: 6433178
• Report Number(s): CONF-861146-
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
140600 -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
COST
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
INDIUM PHOSPHIDE SOLAR CELLS
MASS
NASA
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POWER SUPPLIES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SERVICE LIFE
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
SUPERLATTICES
US ORGANIZATIONS