Photovoltaics R&D: At the Tipping Point

Conference · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008043865-8/50588-2· OSTI ID:860923

Kazmerski, L L

'' . . . with robust investments in research and market development, the picture changes dramatically.'' Thus, the realigned U.S. Photovoltaic Industry Roadmap highlights R&D as critical to the tipping point that will make solar photovoltaics (PV) significant in the U.S. energy portfolio--part of a well-designed plan that would bring ''2034 expectations'' to reality by 2020. Technology improvement and introduction depend on key, focused, and pertinent research contributions that range from the most fundamental through the applied. In this paper, we underscore the successes and relevance of our current systems-driven PV R&D programs, which are built on integrated capabilities. These capabilities span atomic-level characterization, nanotechnology, new materials design, interface and device engineering, theoretical guidance and modeling, processing, measurements and analysis, and process integration. This presentation identifies and provides examples of critical research tipping points needed to foster now and near technologies (primarily crystalline silicon and thin films) and to introduce coming generations of solar PV that provide options to push us to the next performance levels (devices with ultra-high efficiencies and with ultra-low cost). The serious importance of science and creativity to U.S. PV technology ownership--and the increased focus to accelerate the time from laboratory discovery to industry adoption--are emphasized at this ''tipping point'' for solar PV.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• OSTI ID: 860923
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-520-37553
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ATOMIC-LEVEL CHARACTERIZATION
DESIGN
INTERFACE AND DEVICE ENGINEERING
MARKET
MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYSIS
NANOTECHNOLOGY
NEW MATERIALS DESIGN
PERFORMANCE
PROCESS INTEGRATION
PROCESSING
PV
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
SILICON
SIMULATION
Solar Energy - Photovoltaics
THEORETICAL GUIDANCE AND MODELING
THIN FILMS
TIPPING POINT