Wafer integrated micro‐scale concentrating photovoltaics

Li, Duanhui; Li, Lan; Jared, Bradley; Keeler, Gordon; Miller, Bill; Wood, Michael; Hains, Christopher; Sweatt, William; Paap, Scott; Saavedra, Michael; Alford, Charles; Mudrick, John; Das, Ujjwal; Hegedus, Steve; Tauke‐Pedretti, Anna; Hu, Juejun; Gu, Tian

doi:10.1002/pip.3034

Title: Wafer integrated micro‐scale concentrating photovoltaics

Abstract

Abstract A novel micro‐scale photovoltaic concept, Wafer Integrated Micro‐scale Photovoltaics (WPV), is proposed, analyzed, and experimentally demonstrated. The WPV concept seamlessly integrates multijunction micro‐cells with a multi‐functional silicon platform that simultaneously provides optical concentration, hybrid PV/CPV architecture, and mechanical alignment features. Fabrication and optical performance characterization of the Si platform are described in this paper. Over 100% improvement in the concentration‐acceptance‐angle product ( CAP ) is demonstrated using the wafer‐embedded micro‐concentrating elements, leading to significantly reduced module material and fabrication costs, sufficient angular tolerance for low‐cost trackers, and an ultra‐compact optical architecture compatible with commercial flat panel infrastructures. The development of a prototypical module with a 400× concentration ratio is described. Outdoor optical characterization of the module shows acceptance angles of ±1.7° and ±2.5° for 90% of on‐axis power and full‐width‐half‐maximum, respectively. The projected performance of the PV/CPV hybrid architecture illustrates its potential for cost‐effective collection of both direct and diffuse sunlight, thereby extending the geographic and market domains for cost‐effective PV system deployment. Leveraging low‐cost micro‐fabrication and high‐level integration techniques, the WPV approach presents a promising route to combine the high performance of multijunction solar cells and the low costs of flat‐plate Si PV systems.

Authors:

Li, Duanhui ^[1]; Li, Lan ^[1]; Jared, Bradley ^[2]; Keeler, Gordon ^[2]; Miller, Bill ^[2]; Wood, Michael ^[2]; Hains, Christopher ^[2]; Sweatt, William ^[2]; Paap, Scott ^[2]; Saavedra, Michael ^[2]; Alford, Charles ^[2]; Mudrick, John ^[2]; Das, Ujjwal ^[3]; Hegedus, Steve ^[3]; Tauke‐Pedretti, Anna ^[2]; Hu, Juejun ^[1];

^[1]

Massachusetts Institute for Technology Cambridge MA USA
Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque NM USA
Institute of Energy Conversion University of Delaware Newark DE USA

Publication Date:: Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1464554

Resource Type:: Publisher's Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Progress in Photovoltaics

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Name: Progress in Photovoltaics Journal Volume: 26 Journal Issue: 8; Journal ID: ISSN 1062-7995

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

Citation Formats


                    Li, Duanhui, Li, Lan, Jared, Bradley, Keeler, Gordon, Miller, Bill, Wood, Michael, Hains, Christopher, Sweatt, William, Paap, Scott, Saavedra, Michael, Alford, Charles, Mudrick, John, Das, Ujjwal, Hegedus, Steve, Tauke‐Pedretti, Anna, Hu, Juejun, and Gu, Tian. Wafer integrated micro‐scale concentrating photovoltaics.  United Kingdom: N. p., 2018. 
Web.  doi:10.1002/pip.3034.

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                    Li, Duanhui, Li, Lan, Jared, Bradley, Keeler, Gordon, Miller, Bill, Wood, Michael, Hains, Christopher, Sweatt, William, Paap, Scott, Saavedra, Michael, Alford, Charles, Mudrick, John, Das, Ujjwal, Hegedus, Steve, Tauke‐Pedretti, Anna, Hu, Juejun, & Gu, Tian. Wafer integrated micro‐scale concentrating photovoltaics.  United Kingdom.  https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3034

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                    Li, Duanhui, Li, Lan, Jared, Bradley, Keeler, Gordon, Miller, Bill, Wood, Michael, Hains, Christopher, Sweatt, William, Paap, Scott, Saavedra, Michael, Alford, Charles, Mudrick, John, Das, Ujjwal, Hegedus, Steve, Tauke‐Pedretti, Anna, Hu, Juejun, and Gu, Tian. Mon .  
"Wafer integrated micro‐scale concentrating photovoltaics".  United Kingdom.  https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3034.

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@article{osti_1464554,

  title        = {Wafer integrated micro‐scale concentrating photovoltaics},

  author       = {Li, Duanhui and Li, Lan and Jared, Bradley and Keeler, Gordon and Miller, Bill and Wood, Michael and Hains, Christopher and Sweatt, William and Paap, Scott and Saavedra, Michael and Alford, Charles and Mudrick, John and Das, Ujjwal and Hegedus, Steve and Tauke‐Pedretti, Anna and Hu, Juejun and Gu, Tian},

  abstractNote = {Abstract A novel micro‐scale photovoltaic concept, Wafer Integrated Micro‐scale Photovoltaics (WPV), is proposed, analyzed, and experimentally demonstrated. The WPV concept seamlessly integrates multijunction micro‐cells with a multi‐functional silicon platform that simultaneously provides optical concentration, hybrid PV/CPV architecture, and mechanical alignment features. Fabrication and optical performance characterization of the Si platform are described in this paper. Over 100% improvement in the concentration‐acceptance‐angle product ( CAP ) is demonstrated using the wafer‐embedded micro‐concentrating elements, leading to significantly reduced module material and fabrication costs, sufficient angular tolerance for low‐cost trackers, and an ultra‐compact optical architecture compatible with commercial flat panel infrastructures. The development of a prototypical module with a 400× concentration ratio is described. Outdoor optical characterization of the module shows acceptance angles of ±1.7° and ±2.5° for 90% of on‐axis power and full‐width‐half‐maximum, respectively. The projected performance of the PV/CPV hybrid architecture illustrates its potential for cost‐effective collection of both direct and diffuse sunlight, thereby extending the geographic and market domains for cost‐effective PV system deployment. Leveraging low‐cost micro‐fabrication and high‐level integration techniques, the WPV approach presents a promising route to combine the high performance of multijunction solar cells and the low costs of flat‐plate Si PV systems.},

  doi          = {10.1002/pip.3034},

  journal      = {Progress in Photovoltaics},

  number       = 8,

  volume       = 26,

  place        = {United Kingdom},

  year         = {Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 EDT 2018},

  month        = {Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 EDT 2018}

}

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