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A HISTORY of the SOLAR CELL, in PATENTS Karthik Kumar, Ph.D
A HISTORY OF THE SOLAR CELL, IN PATENTS Karthik Kumar, Ph.D., Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP 901 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001 [email protected] Member, Artificial Intelligence & Other Emerging Technologies Committee Intellectual Property Owners Association 1501 M St. N.W., Suite 1150, Washington, D.C. 20005 [email protected] Introduction Solar cell technology has seen exponential growth over the last two decades. It has evolved from serving small-scale niche applications to being considered a mainstream energy source. For example, worldwide solar photovoltaic capacity had grown to 512 Gigawatts by the end of 2018 (representing 27% growth from 2017)1. In 1956, solar panels cost roughly $300 per watt. By 1975, that figure had dropped to just over $100 a watt. Today, a solar panel can cost as little as $0.50 a watt. Several countries are edging towards double-digit contribution to their electricity needs from solar technology, a trend that by most accounts is forecast to continue into the foreseeable future. This exponential adoption has been made possible by 180 years of continuing technological innovation in this industry. Aided by patent protection, this centuries-long technological innovation has steadily improved solar energy conversion efficiency while lowering volume production costs. That history is also littered with the names of some of the foremost scientists and engineers to walk this earth. In this article, we review that history, as captured in the patents filed contemporaneously with the technological innovation. 1 Wiki-Solar, Utility-scale solar in 2018: Still growing thanks to Australia and other later entrants, https://wiki-solar.org/library/public/190314_Utility-scale_solar_in_2018.pdf (Mar. -
Letting in the Light: How Solar Photovoltaics Will Revolutionise The
LETTING IN THE LIGHT HOW SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS WILL REVOLUTIONISE THE ELECTRICITY SYSTEM Copyright © IRENA 2016 ISBN 978-92-95111-95-0 (Print), ISBN 978-92-95111-96-7 (PDF) Unless otherwise stated, this publication and material herein are the property of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and are subject to copyright by IRENA. Material in this publication may be freely used, shared, copied, reproduced, printed and/or stored, provided that all such material is clearly attributed to IRENA and bears a notation of copyright (© IRENA) with the year of copyright. Material contained in this publication attributed to third parties may be subject to third-party copyright and separate terms of use and restrictions, including restrictions in relation to any commercial use. This publication should be cited as: IRENA (2016), ‘Letting in the Light: How solar PV will revolutionise the electricity system,’ Abu Dhabi. About IRENA The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. www.irena.org Acknowledgements IRENA is grateful for the valuable contributions of Mark Turner in the preparation of this study. This report benefited from the reviews and comments of numerous experts, including Morgan Bazilian (World Bank), John Smirnow (Global Solar Council), Tomas Kåberger (Renewable Energy Institute), Paddy Padmanathan (ACWA Power), Linus Mofor (UNECA), DK Khare (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India), Maurice Silva (Ministry of Energy, Chile), Eicke Weber (Fraunhofer ISE). -
Optimization of Thin-Film Solar Cells for Lunar Surface Operations
Optimization of Thin-Film Solar Cells for Lunar Surface Operations Shawn Breeding∗ and William E. Johnson† NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, 35812 Thin-film solar cells have been in production for decades, but technology has only recently advanced enough to allow for comparable efficiencies to traditional rigid cells. Some of the benefits of thin-films, such as lighter weight and being foldable, are particularly advantageous to space applications since mass and volume are key considerations of any flight project. Using these thin-film cells in space, however, is outside of their ground-based design criteria. This requires special care to be taken in designing the power generation system of a spacecraft around a thin-film solar cell, particularly in regards to thermal management. Without the diffusion of an atmosphere to mitigate solar load, the temperature of the panels can rapidly exceed their design specification. In this paper a design solution is presented that allows for thin-film solar cells to be used in a robotic lunar lander. Due to the low thermal mass and in-plane conductivity of thin films, it is difficult to remove waste heat by any other method than radiation. On the lunar surface this means angling the arrays to increase their view factor to space, which has the negative consequence of decreasing their power generation. An optimization was developed to balance the heat rejection and power generation of the cells, using constraints on the maximum cell temperature and minimum spacecraft power requirements. The resulting solar panel angle was then used as an input to the Thermal Desktop model to verify the final panel temperatures. -
Maximum Power Point
Photovoltaic Efficiency: Maximum Power Point Fundamentals Article This article presents the concept of electricity through Ohm’s law and the power equation, and how it applies to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. You’ll learn how to find the maximum power point (MPP) of a PV panel in order to optimize its efficiency at creating solar power. Real-World Applications PV panels are becoming an increasingly common way to generate power around the world for many different power applications. This technology is still expensive when compared to other sources of power so it is important to optimize the efficiency of PV panels. This can be a challenge because as weather conditions change (even cloud cover, see Figure 1), the voltage and current in the circuit changes. Engineers have designed inverters to vary the resistance and continuously find new maximum power point (MPP) in a circuit; this is called maximum power point tracking (MPPT). An inverter can be hooked up to one or many PV panels at a time. It is up to engineers to decide the right balance of cost and efficiency when including inverters in their designs. By understanding the factors that affect electrical circuits and knowing how to control the elements in circuits, engineers are able to design solar power systems that operate as efficiently as possible in different environments with changing weather conditions. Figure 1. Cloud shadow dilemma. Introduction Solar energy technology is an emerging energy field that provides opportunities for talented and bright engineers to make beneficial impacts on the environment while solving intriguing engineering challenges. K-12 However, before attempting to design solar energy power systems, engineers must understand for fundamental electrical laws and equations and how they apply to solar energy applications. -
Thermal Performance of Dwellings with Rooftop PV Panels and PV/Thermal Collectors
energies Article Thermal Performance of Dwellings with Rooftop PV Panels and PV/Thermal Collectors Saad Odeh Senior Program Convenor, Sydney Institute of Business and Technology, Sydney City Campus, Western Sydney University, NSW 2000, Australia; [email protected] or [email protected]; Tel.: +61-2-8236-8075 Received: 22 June 2018; Accepted: 17 July 2018; Published: 19 July 2018 Abstract: To improve the energy efficiency of dwellings, rooftop photovoltaic (PV) technology is proposed in contemporary designs; however, adopting this technology will add a new component to the roof that may affect its thermal balance. This paper studies the effect of roof shading developed by solar PV panels on dwellings’ thermal performance. The analysis in this work is performed by using two types of software packages: “AccuRate Sustainability” for rating the energy efficiency of a residential building design, and “PVSYST” for the solar PV power system design. AccuRate Sustainability is used to calculate the annual heating and cooling load, and PVSYST is used to evaluate the power production from the rooftop PV system. The analysis correlates the electrical energy generated from the PV panels to the change in the heating and cooling load due to roof shading. Different roof orientations, roof inclinations, and roof insulation, as well as PV dwelling floor areas, are considered in this study. The analysis shows that the drop in energy efficiency due to the shaded area of the roof by PV panels is very small compared to the energy generated by these panels. The analysis also shows that, with an increasing number of floors in the dwelling, the effect of shading by PV panels on thermal performance becomes negligible. -
Q2/Q3 2020 Solar Industry Update
Q2/Q3 2020 Solar Industry Update David Feldman Robert Margolis December 8, 2020 NREL/PR-6A20-78625 Executive Summary Global Solar Deployment PV System and Component Pricing • The median estimate of 2020 global PV system deployment projects an • The median residential quote from EnergySage in H1 2020 fell 2.4%, y/y 8% y/y increase to approximately 132 GWDC. to $2.85/W—a slower rate of decline than observed in any previous 12- month period. U.S. PV Deployment • Even with supply-chain disruptions, BNEF reported global mono c-Si • Despite the impact of the pandemic on the overall economy, the United module pricing around $0.20/W and multi c-Si module pricing around States installed 9.0 GWAC (11.1 GWDC) of PV in the first 9 months of $0.17/W. 2020—its largest first 9-month total ever. • In Q2 2020, U.S. mono c-Si module prices fell, dropping to their lowest • At the end of September, there were 67.9 GWAC (87.1 GWDC) of solar PV recorded level, but they were still trading at a 77% premium over global systems in the United States. ASP. • Based on EIA data through September 2020, 49.4 GWAC of new electric Global Manufacturing generating capacity are planned to come online in 2020, 80% of which will be wind and solar; a significant portion is expected to come in Q4. • Despite tariffs, PV modules and cells are being imported into the United States at historically high levels—20.6 GWDC of PV modules and 1.7 • EIA estimates solar will install 17 GWAC in 2020 and 2021, with GWDC of PV cells in the first 9 months of 2020. -
Solar Power History Pros and Cons
Solar Power History Solar energy is the most readily available source of energy on the planet. Every hour the sun sends enough energy to power the entire planet for a year! Capturing the sun’s energy to do work for us began in the 7th century BCE when magnifying lenses were used to light fires. In the 18th and 19th century, solar technology really began to heat up with the invention of solar ovens and the discovery of the photovoltaic effect (the creation of electric current in a material upon exposure to light). During the late 1800’s and throughout the 1900’s, three different solar technologies emerged: solar photovoltaics , concentrating solar power and passive solar (discussed more below). In the early 1960's satellites in the United States and Soviet space programs were powered by solar cells and in the late 1960's solar power was basically the standard for powering space bound satellites. The period from the 1970's to the 1990's saw a change in the use of solar cells. Solar cells began powering railroad crossing signals and in remote places to help power homes, Australia used solar cells in their microwave towers to expand their telecommunication capabilities. Desert regions used solar power to assist with irrigation, when other means of power were not available. Today, you may see solar powered cars and solar powered aircraft. Recently new technology has provided such advances as screen printed solar cells. There is now a solar fabric that can be used to side a house and solar shingles for roofing. -
How Smart Metering and Smart Charging May Help a Local Energy Community in Collective Self-Consumption in Presence of Electric Vehicles
energies Article How Smart Metering and Smart Charging may Help a Local Energy Community in Collective Self-Consumption in Presence of Electric Vehicles Giuseppe Barone 1 , Giovanni Brusco 1 , Daniele Menniti 1 , Anna Pinnarelli 1 , Gaetano Polizzi 1, Nicola Sorrentino 1, Pasquale Vizza 1 and Alessandro Burgio 2,* 1 Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; [email protected] (G.B.); [email protected] (G.B.); [email protected] (D.M.); [email protected] (A.P.); [email protected] (G.P.); [email protected] (N.S.); [email protected] (P.V.) 2 Independent Researcher, 87036 Rende, Italy * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 11 July 2020; Accepted: 4 August 2020; Published: 12 August 2020 Abstract: The 2018/2001/EU renewable energy directive (RED II) underlined the strategic role of energy communities in the EU transition process towards sustainable and renewable energy. In line with the path traced by RED II, this paper proposes a solution that may help local energy communities in increasing self-consumption. The proposed solution is based on the combination of smart metering and smart charging. A set of smart meters returns the profile of each member of the community with a time resolution of 5 s; the aggregator calculates the community profile and regulates the charging of electric vehicles accordingly. An experimental test is performed on a local community composed of four users, where the first is a consumer with a Nissan Leaf, whereas the remaining three users are prosumers with a photovoltaic generator mounted on the roof of their home. -
Italy's Effort to Phase out and Rationalise Its Fossil Fuel Subsidies
ITALY’S EFFORT TO PHASE OUT AND RATIONALISE ITS FOSSIL-FUEL SUBSIDIES A REPORT ON THE G20 PEER-REVIEW OF INEFFICIENT FOSSIL-FUEL SUBSIDIES THAT ENCOURAGE WASTEFUL CONSUMPTION IN ITALY PREPARED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PEER-REVIEW TEAM: ARGENTINA, CANADA, CHILE, CHINA, FRANCE, GERMANY, INDONESIA, NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, IEA, UN ENVIRONMENT, IISD, EUROPEAN ENERGY RETAILERS, GREEN BUDGET EUROPE, THE OECD (CHAIR OF THE PEER-REVIEW) AND SELECTED EXPERTS APRIL 2019 1 │ Italy’s effort to phase out and rationalise its fossil-fuel subsidies A report on the G20 peer-review of inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption in Italy Prepared by the members of the peer-review team: Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, IEA, UN Environment, IISD, European Energy Retailers, Green Budget Europe, the OECD (Chair of the peer-review) and selected experts ITALY’S EFFORT TO PHASE OUT AND RATIONALISE ITS FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES 2 │ Table of contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 5 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1. Background and context .............................................................................................................. -
Propane & Net Zero
PROPANE & NET ZERO WHY NET ZERO IS IMPORTANT “Net zero” refers to achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere. Propane can help reduce CO2 emissions by replacing heavy carbons like coal, oil and even wood. Its affordability also ensures every consumer can share equitably in the benefits propane brings. PROPANE DECARBONIZES PROPANE ENSURES EQUITY Clean and renewable energy like propane Access to clean, affordable and renewable energy accelerates decarbonization. like propane ensures equity on the path to zero. Δ Decarbonization requires more cleaner energy options. The Δ Urban and rural low-income households, especially U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Scientific and African American and Latinx households, spend roughly Technical Information says that large emissions reductions three times as much of their income on energy costs are achievable through a broad range of opportunities, as non-low-income households. In February 2021, EIA including the use of low- or zero-carbon alternatives. reported that electricity was 68% more expensive per million BTUs than propane. Δ The electric grid isn’t always the cleanest answer. Currently, propane-fueled medium- and heavy-duty Δ Energy should be affordable, so that no one has to vehicles provide a lower carbon footprint solution in 38 go without, but the share of income that low-income U.S. states when compared to medium- and heavy-duty households spent on electricity rose by 1/3 in the last EVs charged from the electrical grid. decade. Δ Propane is innovating everyday. It is, in fact, the new Δ Everyone should have access to clean energy and home diesel. -
An Overview of Behind-The-Meter Solar-Plus-Storage
AN OVERVIEW OF BEHIND-THE- METER SOLAR-PLUS-STORAGE REGULATORY DESIGN Approaches and Case Studies to Inform International Applications Owen Zinaman, Thomas Bowen, and Alexandra Aznar National Renewable Energy Laboratory March 2020 A product of the USAID-NREL partnership Contract No. IAG-17-2050 NOTICE This work was authored, in part, by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE- AC36-08GO28308. Funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Contract No. IAG-17-2050. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily represent the views of the DOE or the U.S. Government, or any agency thereof, including USAID. This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports produced after 1991 and a growing number of pre-1991 documents are available free via www.OSTI.gov. Cover photo from iStock 471670114. NREL prints on paper that contains recycled content. Acknowledgments The authors thank Anurag Mishra and Sarah Lawson from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Energy and Infrastructure for their support of this work. We also wish to thank the following individuals for their detailed review comments, insights, and contributions to this report (names listed alphabetically by organization and last name). Clean Energy Group—Seth Mullendore E3 Analytics—Toby -
Fabrication and Simulation of Perovskite Solar Cells
University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering 2021 Fabrication and Simulation of Perovskite Solar Cells Maniell Workman University of Kentucky, [email protected] Author ORCID Identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9599-1673 Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2021.160 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Workman, Maniell, "Fabrication and Simulation of Perovskite Solar Cells" (2021). Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering. 165. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ece_etds/165 This Master's Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Electrical and Computer Engineering at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known.