Thursday, August 4, 2022

Perovskite PV: IDTechEx Discusses Resolving the Stability Challenge

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Image credit: www.idtechex.com

(Press release Tuesday 26 July 2022, IDTechEx Cambridge, UK)

Perovskite PV: IDTechEx Discusses Resolving the Stability Challenge

Perovskite PV is an exciting new solar power technology. In 2009, the first report of a perovskite solar cell was published with an efficiency of just 3.9%. Just 10 years later, the record efficiencies surpassed 25% – comparable to conventional silicon technology following decades of research. Given the novelty of the technology, the rapid gains in efficiency are impressive; however, high efficiency is not the only promising attribute. Perovskite solar modules are significantly lighter than conventional silicon modules and can even be fabricated on flexible lightweight substrates. Versatility in module design makes them well-suited to a wide range of emerging applications such as self-powered electronics and Internet of Things devices. The new report published by IDTechEx, “Perovskite Photovoltaics 2023-2033”, explores the commercialization potential of perovskite PV and identify the challenges remaining.

What is perovskite PV?

Perovskites refer to a family of materials with a specific material structure. The class of perovskites used in photovoltaics (PV) have a unique combination of electronic and optical properties that make it extremely well-suited to PV technology. Perovskite PV can provide similarly high-power density as silicon PV at lower cost, a fraction of the weight, and with a simpler manufacturing process. It can also be combined with silicon to create tandem cell architectures that can surpass the efficiency limits of single junction solar cells.

Efficiency gains dampened by stability concerns

Despite the demonstration of high-efficiency perovskite modules, commercial adoption has been inhibited by concerns over long-term stability. Instability has a severely damaging effect on the electronic and optical properties of the module. There exist several sources of degradation that impact the stability and longevity of a perovskite module. These can be divided into two categories – intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic instability is caused by defects and the migration of ions through the cell layers. Extrinsic instability is a result of contamination from the atmosphere, such as heat, moisture, oxygen, and UV radiation.

How can the stability challenge be resolved? There are two methods. The first is to encapsulate the cell to prevent the ingress of environmental elements. The transmittance rates of oxygen and water must be extremely low, and the encapsulant material must be optically transparent to visible light and ideally non-transparent to UV light. In the IDTechEx report, “Perovskite Photovoltaics 2023-2033”, different conventional and emerging encapsulation methods are identified and benchmarked by their suitability. The second method involves tuning the perovskite’s chemical composition to improve the resistance of the material. As the saying goes, nothing good comes for free. Modifying the chemical composition can improve the stability of the solar cell but may impact other properties such as efficiency and absorption spectrum. Encapsulation techniques and material engineering are crucial to preventing the degradation of the perovskite film. Solving these high-value problems is a compelling commercial opportunity.


There exist numerous sources of instability within perovskite solar cells. Source: IDTechEx

Progress and Route to Commercialization

Resolving perovskite PV stability issues is challenging, with many strategies bringing performance trade-offs or extra costs. Nevertheless, the field has come a long way in its understanding of degradation mechanisms, and substantial progress has been made. Advancements in stabilizing perovskite solar cells have helped to transition the technology from academia to industry. Several companies, such as Oxford PV and Saule Technologies, are poised to enter the unestablished perovskite PV market within the next 2-3 years, with pilot studies and trials currently in progress. For a detailed comparison of the technology readiness levels of the key industry players, emerging applications, primary information, and market forecasts for the coming decade, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Perovskite.

Report Overview

The new IDTechEx report, “Perovskite Photovoltaics 2023-2033”, gives 10-year market forecasts, key player analysis, technology benchmarking, and identification of core application areas. It examines the current status and latest trends in photovoltaic technology, supply chain, and manufacturing know-how. It also identifies the key challenges, competition, and innovation opportunities facing perovskite PV. Technical analysis and emerging trends are based on cutting-edge research and primary information from key and emerging players. This report focuses primarily on photovoltaic applications of perovskites and also provides an overview of alternative (non-photovoltaic) applications.

To find out more about this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Perovskite or contact Research@IDTechEx.com. Downloadable sample pages are available.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Media Contact:

Natalie Fifield

Digital Marketing Manager

press@IDTechEx.com

+44(0)1223 812300

Social Media Links:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/IDTechEx

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/IDTechEx

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

100% Solar-Powered House: a Realistic Goal or an Unattainable Dream

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Living in a 100% solar-powered house is a dream for many people who care for nature and aim to have a green lifestyle. Is it a realistic goal or an unattainable dream? In fact, this is a real possibility, and today there are many houses that run on solar power alone. It is certainly possible for a residential solar power system to collect and store enough solar energy to power an entire household. Even if you have a large house, there is a possibility to switch completely to solar energy using batteries.  A solar power system and solar thermal system (or PVT photovoltaic thermal hybrid) can provide solar electricity, hot water, heating, and cooling so, you can run your house solely on solar energy throughout the whole year. Of course, going solar entirely is not as easy as it seems, and it is definitely not cheap. Also, you have to consider some basic things before going off-grid. And you have to be very precise during the planning.

First, you should determine your energy needs – how much energy your house typically uses. You may see your previous electricity bills, as well as, calculate your electricity needs using online calculators. Also, important factors are the size of your house, how many people live there, the roof’s surface, what direction the roof faces, trees around that may shade, your location, and peak sunlight hours. You may take a look at meteorological data for your area, too. This information will help you plan a solar panel system that will make enough electricity. Concerning the weather forecast, you should be prepared for the worst scenario.

Solar energy is free, but to convert this energy to electricity, you will need equipment that is expensive, especially if you want to power your entire house. You will need a solid initial investment before reaching the moment when you and your family will enjoy free and clean electricity. But think of it as a long-term investment. Although to use solar energy you will need the equipment and installing that equipment, which comes at a high price, solar energy is now among the least expensive forms of renewable energy. And if you care for the environment and want to have a green lifestyle, going solar is the right step.

There are also energy-related incentives and rebates that will help you reduce the cost of your solar power system. Keep in mind that the benefits vary in different countries and different states that’s why you have to check them carefully. Taking advantage of grants, tax credits, and per-watt rebates might make the initial investment more affordable for you.

To power your entire home with solar energy you will need to buy more solar panels. But the number of solar panels is not all that matters. Their quality, panel output, and efficiency are important, as well. Most residential solar panels have between 16%-20% efficiency (22% are the best). If you can afford to buy more efficient solar panels, then you would need less space. It is essential to find a good solar installation company that will help you choose the best solar panels for your home and design, and install your solar panel system. It is great to do your own research and have as much information as you can gather before going solar, but professional help and advice are absolutely needed. 

In general, the average home in the United States uses 10,715 kWh of electricity per year. If you buy the average 340-watt solar panel, you’d need around 20-24 solar panels to generate enough energy to power your entire home. But as I wrote above, you have to consider many other factors.

Living in a 100% solar-powered house is possible with a solid initial investment and a proper setup. It will make your home more eco-friendly, and it will be good for the environment. Besides, this is a long-term investment and powering, heating, and cooling your home with solar energy will save you a lot of money in the future.

Source: https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/green/run-house-on-solar-power.htm

Saturday, April 16, 2022

What is a SolVolt and How to Use It?

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SolVolt solar charger was advertised as the top-selling solar charger in 2001. So, I decided to write a short review about it. The company that made SolVolt says it sold over 50,000 SolVolt solar chargers in 2021.

SolVolt is a small portable solar charger that can charge two devices simultaneously. It is a useful solar gadget when you are outdoor or during emergencies. SolVolt solar charger is your necessary solar power bank when you are traveling. It only requires sunlight to provide enough power for your devices. In any outdoor activity such as camping, hiking, or climbing mountains, you can bring your SolVolt solar charger with you and be sure that it can withstand harsh weather conditions. In addition, this solar charger can charge at least three devices before it being exposed to the sun again and recharge.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of solar chargers on the market today, but what makes SolVolt different is its advanced Solar Photovoltaic Modules, which are the same technology used to power spacecraft and satellites orbiting Earth. This solar technology harnesses the sun’s rays, and you can count on this durable solar power bank anywhere you go. It lets you be off the grid for a long time and still stay connected. If you choose to buy SolVolt solar charger, see its features below.

:: SolVolt solar charger has a10,000 mAh battery capacity. You can charge your devices several times 
:: It has two USB ports and can charge two devices at the same time
:: It is a high speed and long-lasting
:: To charge fully, it takes two hour
:: It has 36 LED high illumination lights that are perfect during the unpredictable power outages or nights
:: Its size is 2.24 inches width and 4.06 inches length
:: It is fully compatible with iOS and Android phones
:: With SolVolt solar charger, you can also charge iPods, tablets, etc.
:: It is compact and lightweight (just 14oz)
:: It is built to withstand rain, snow, and wind
:: Waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof
:: The SolVolt solar charger uses a next-gen solar induction form to charge devices two times faster than many other devices

You can use SolVolt solar charger simply by placing it under the sunlight or plugging it in an electric socket to recharge it. SolVolt comes 70% charged, and the recommendation is to be 100% charged before use. You can bring it on an airplane if you pack it in your carry-on. Also, you can use any USB cord with a SolVolt solar charge.

SolVolt is an affordable power bank, and you can buy it at a discount price. You can order bundle packs for friends and family members and save more money. SolVolt is only available online, and it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so there is no financial loss to try it. 

If you are interested in who owns SolVolt, it is an American company. Below is its address (from the official SolVolt website):

Invative Inc. Address:
10946 Ratner St #1759
Sun Valley CA 91352

And if you decide to give a SolVolt solar charger a try, buy it from its official website: www.solvoltcharger.com.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

10 Solar Power Technology Innovations

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In this post I will list 10 solar power technology innovations.

1. Building Integrated Photovoltaics

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) system is the integration of photovoltaics (PV) into the building envelope and part of building components such as roofs, skylights, façades, or windows

The photovoltaic materials are used to replace conventional building materials and convert solar energy into electricity for on-site use or export to the grid. They also have some other functions such as thermal insulation, weather protection (waterproofing, sun protection), noise protection, etc.

BIPV systems are increasingly being incorporated into the construction of new buildings because they have lower overall costs than non-integrated PV systems. BIPV systems avoid the cost of conventional materials so the cost of PV materials is reduced and their life-cycle cost is improved.

:: Solar Windows

Solar windows are a form of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). They are windows with built-in solar cells.

Solar windows feature photovoltaic glazing and not only provide a clear view, but also convert sunlight into renewable electricity for the building. Efficiency levels are between 12% and 15%. 

It is also possible to retrofit existing windows by buying a photovoltaic film and applying it to window glass. The film is made from mostly organic materials, such as carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Transparent solar panels are another innovation in the solar technology.

Read about companies that are producing solar energy generating windows: pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/06/22/more-than-a-view-here-are-3-solar-energy-producing-windows/

:: Solar shingles

Another type of Building Integrated Photovoltaics is solar shingles. The solar shingle idea came from DOW Chemical Company, who first unveiled it in 2009.  In October 2016, the company Tesla entered the solar shingle industry in a joint venture with SolarCity. In 2017, Tesla began marketing their solar shingles (Solar Roof tiles).

Solar shingles are solar roofing products that function as mini solar panels and are designed to look like conventional roofing materials. They resemble the size and shape of regular asphalt shingles or roof tiles and blend aesthetically with the roof unlike the bulky solar panels mounted on the roof. 

An integrated, single-piece solar rooftop made using laminated glass is another innovative product that some companies offer.

2. Solar Paint

Solar paint is an innovation in solar energy technology that promises a much cheaper and easier way to use solar energy.

There are a few different types of solar paints that are in development now, and each has its own unique way of producing energy. Most solar paint prototypes contain liquids with photovoltaic properties so that they can capture the sunlight and transform it into electricity.

Currently, the tree solar paints type that has the most potential are:

  • Quantum Dot Solar Cells (Photovoltaic Paint)
  • Perovskite Solar Paint
  • Hydrogen-Producing Solar Paint

A disadvantage of solar paint is its efficiency (3 to 8%), new efficiency record of 13.4% for a quantum dot solar cell is still much behind that of silicon-based solar panels (20 to 25%).

Solar paints are not yet available to consumers, but with further research they may be on the market soon.

3. Solar Gadgets: Portable Solar Battery Charger & Portable Solar Lighting Kit

A portable solar charger and portable solar lighting kit are useful solar gadgets. With a portable solar battery charger you can charge your cell phone, laptop, tablet, iPods, digital cameras, etc., everywhere you want.

A portable solar lighting kit is helpful as an emergency light whenever required. It is also useful as portable light for campers and hitchhikers. Typically, such a kit provides power output in 3 – 10 W and has a rechargeable battery. Read more: economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/productline/power-generation/solar-lighting-kit-extremely-useful-as-emergency-lights-or-portable-lights/articleshow/69198210.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Portable solar power helps people in developing countries who lack access to electricity and those who survived disasters.

4. Solar Transportation

An example of solar transportation is a solar-powered car. In one of my previous posts “5 Partially Solar-Powered Cars You Can Buy”  you can read some interesting information regarding solar cars. There are also solar trainssolar planes, solar yachts, solar bikes, solar scooters, etc.

5. Solar Desalination

Solar desalination is an environment-friendly technique to produce drinking water from the sea using solar energy. There are two common methods – direct (thermal) and indirect (photovoltaic).

The salt from the water is removed via a specially designed still that uses solar energy. The produced heat boils seawater and captures the water vapor, which, is in turn, cooled and condensed into fresh water.

Another solar desalination method is reverse osmosis. It is a pressure-driven process that separates fresh water from other substances via a semi-permeable membrane. It is used in large solar-powered plants. 

Solar desalination could be helpful for millions of people around the world who do not have access to fresh drinking water (coastal community, low-income people, people in developing countries, survivors of various disasters). 

Saudi Arabia meets much of its drinking water needs by desalinationYears ago, the country started to use the power of the sun to produce fresh water. 

Solar-powered desalination plants could supply water in remote desert areas where fresh water isn’t available. 

6. Bifacial Solar Panels

Bifacial solar panels produce electricity from both sides of the panels – front and backside, as they can collect sunlight reflecting from the ground. Thus bifacial solar modules perform best when mounted near reflective surfaces. For example, light-colored roofs, white tiles, swimming pools, desert sand, and much more. Bifacial solar panels are also perfect for homes with limited space due to their ability to generate more power.

Bifacial solar panels aren’t something new. Bifacial solar technology  is dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. but only with the development of Passivated Emitter Rear Cell technology their popularity had increased because it helped increase their efficiency rate (between 20% to 40%).

Currently, the market is dominated by mono facial (traditional) solar modules. Predictions are that by 2029, bifacial solar modules will make up 50% of the market share. Source: solartechadvisor.com/bifacial-solar-panels/

7. Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells are a group of materials with a specific crystal structure, named after the mineral with that structure – calcium titanium oxide (CaTiO3). Any type of material that has the same crystal structure as calcium titanium oxide is considered a perovskite. And this is a group of 10 or more metallic elements that exhibit photovoltaic (PV) properties.

There is an increasing interest in perovskite solar cells because, unlike silicon solar cells, they can be mass-produced through roll-to-roll processing. In addition, they are light, colorful, and can be used in non-traditional settings such as windows and contoured roofs. 

Perovskite solar cells are an interesting area of research among some other new-generation solar power technologies due to their conversion efficiency. In recent years, they have shown a rapid increase in conversion efficiency from below 4% to over 25% today.

Perovskite solar cells are considered the future of solar cells since their specific crystal structure has shown a great potential for high conversion rate and low production costs.

The most recent innovation is pairing two different PV films together  to improve module conversion (tandem solar cells). Placing perovskite solar cells on top of existing silicon PV cells increases light absorption efficiency. These tandem solar cells can capture both short- and long-wavelength light and increase conversion efficiency to almost 44% compared to silicon-only PV cells, whose theoretical efficiency limit is only 30%.  Source: www.hanwha.com/en/news_and_media/stories/sustainability/plugging-into-the-sun-how-hanwha-is-leading-with-innovations-in-solar-energy.html

8. Solar Panels and Agriculture – Agrivoltaics

In recent years, a new technique regarding solar panel installation emerged – installing solar panels on farmlands to produce clean electricity from the sun to help farmers minimize their utility costsFarmers can also sell excess clean electricity to the grid and develop a form of passive income. At the same time, a huge array of crops are growing underneath the solar panels – peppers, tomatoes, beans, carrots, kale, garlic, radishes, lettuce, and more.  

Putting solar panels on farmlands and planting crops underneath is a new scientific field known as agrivoltaics – agriculture plus photovoltaics (“agri-“ relating to food production, “-voltaic” relating to electricity production).

We all know that plants need sunlight, but some need less than others. We can shade those crops and that means they will require less water, which rapidly evaporates in an open field. In addition, plants “sweat” through a process called transpiration, which makes the solar panels overhead cooler and boosts their efficiency.

There is no need agrivoltaics to be limited to the kinds of crops people eat. The farmers might let native grasses grow wild under the panels, providing food for livestock like cattle and sheep, which would also benefit from the shade. Source: www.wired.com/story/growing-crops-under-solar-panels-now-theres-a-bright-idea/

9. Floating Solar Power System

A floating solar power system (also called floating solar, floating photovoltaic) is a term that describes solar panels mounted on platforms that float on top of a water body surface, usually reservoirs or lakes. The clean electricity is sent from this floating solar structure via submarine cables to a transmission tower.

Floating solar is a fresh innovation in solar power technology. The first floating solar power system took place in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in 2007. The construction combined hydro-engineering with solar PV technologies. Since then, this technology has begun to spread around the world. But Japan remains a world leader in floating solar technologies.

The top four global users of floating solar power are  China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

A floating solar system has a more complicated structure than traditional land-based solar installations. Therefore, it is necessary higher initial capital investment. Floating solar is a new option for renewable energy that complements existing technologies.

Although most floating solar systems are built on calm water, such as reservoirs and lakes, there are also sea-based systems. In 2014, Swimsol  launched the world’s first floating solar power plant for the sea (SolarSea) in the clear blue waters of the Maldives. Source: www.energywatch.com.my/blog/2020/10/11/10-illuminating-facts-about-floating-solar-power/

10. Solar Power Stations in Space

Solar power stations in space or the so-called space-based solar power (SBSP), is an innovative and interesting concept. It means capturing solar power in outer space and distributing it to Earth. Read the post “Solar Power Stations in Space – Science Fiction or a Future Reality?”  to learn more about this concept.