INTEGRATION OF HYBRID ORGANIC-BASED SOLAR CELLS FOR MICRO-GENERATION A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences 2010 Brian Azzopardi School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electrical Energy and Power Systems Group Contents Contents ........................................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables ................................................................................................................... 7 List of Figures .................................................................................................................. 9 Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 13 Declaration ..................................................................................................................... 15 Copyright ....................................................................................................................... 17 Dedication ...................................................................................................................... 19 Acknowledgement ......................................................................................................... 21 Abbreviations and Acronyms ...................................................................................... 23 Symbols .......................................................................................................................... 25 Glossary .......................................................................................................................... 27 List of Publications ........................................................................................................ 29 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 31 1.1 Overview ........................................................................................................... 31 1.2 Challenges facing emerging PV technologies .................................................. 35 1.2.1 Lifetime / stability challenges ........................................................................... 35 1.2.2 Efficiency issues ............................................................................................... 36 1.2.3 Cost reduction challenges ................................................................................. 38 1.3 Aim and objectives of this research .................................................................. 41 1.4 Main thesis contributions .................................................................................. 43 1.5 Thesis structure ................................................................................................. 45 2 PV Technologies in a PV System ................................................................... 49 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 49 2.2 The PV market status ........................................................................................ 50 2.3 Renewable energy financial support schemes .................................................. 51 2.4 Overview of a PV system ................................................................................. 54 2.5 Fundamentals for PV systems energy analysis ................................................. 56 2.6 PV technologies ................................................................................................ 57 2.6.1 Inorganic vs organic semiconductors [59] ........................................................ 59 4 Contents 2.6.2 The organic-based PV solar cell ....................................................................... 60 2.6.3 Organic-based PV solar cell operation ............................................................. 62 2.6.4 Multiple Exciton Generation (MEG) ................................................................ 63 2.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 64 3 Lifetime-Adjusted Calculations Based on Life Cycle Costing .................... 65 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 65 3.2 Description of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) ......................................................... 65 3.2.1 Parameters ......................................................................................................... 67 3.3 Scenario description .......................................................................................... 67 3.3.1 Assumptions ...................................................................................................... 69 3.4 Methodology ..................................................................................................... 70 3.4.1 Mathematical formulation ................................................................................. 71 3.5 Cost boundaries for emerging PV technologies ............................................... 74 3.5.1 Sensitivity analysis ........................................................................................... 75 3.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 76 4 Cost Assessment for Hybrid Organic-Based QD PV Module ..................... 79 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 79 4.2 The cost model of organic-based PV module ................................................... 80 4.2.1 Material costs .................................................................................................... 81 4.2.2 Production and process costs ............................................................................ 88 4.2.3 Estimated cost of PV module ............................................................................ 91 4.2.4 Estimated cost of PV electricity ........................................................................ 93 4.3 Discussion on PV LEC grid parity on BOM costs ........................................... 97 4.4 Future development promise discussion ........................................................... 98 4.5 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 104 5 Life Cycle Assessment for Hybrid Organic-Based PV Module ................ 107 5.1 Overview of PV LCA studies ......................................................................... 107 5.2 LCA methodology .......................................................................................... 110 5.2.1 Goal and scope definition ............................................................................... 112 5.2.2 Inventory analysis ........................................................................................... 113 5.2.3 Impact assessment ........................................................................................... 117 5.2.4 Interpretation ................................................................................................... 117 5.3 Boundaries for sustainability .......................................................................... 120 5.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 121 Contents 5 6 PV System Optimisation Within a Domestic Environment ...................... 123 6.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 123 6.2 Overview of grid-connected PV system optimisation .................................... 124 6.3 The system configuration ................................................................................ 124 6.4 Problem formulation ....................................................................................... 126 6.4.1 Objective function ........................................................................................... 126 6.4.2 Models’ details and constraints ....................................................................... 129 6.5 Numerical studies ............................................................................................ 133 6.5.1 Input data ........................................................................................................ 133 6.5.2 Assumptions .................................................................................................... 134 6.5.3 Results ............................................................................................................. 134 6.5.4 Sensitivity analysis .......................................................................................... 140 6.5.5 Results: optimising Net Present Value (NPV) ................................................ 142 6.6 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 143 7 Multi-Objective Optimisation of a PV System ........................................... 145 7.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 145 7.2 Overview of grid-connected PV systems MO approach ................................