Spectrolab solar cell achives 37.8% conversion efficiency without concentration


SYLMAR, Calif., April 9, 2013 -- A Spectrolab solar cell recently set a world record by converting more energy from the sun into electricity than any other ground-based solar cell without solar concentration.
The Boeing [NYSE: BA] subsidiary's achievement in ground-based solar cell efficiency was verified by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.
The cell converted 37.8 percent of solar energy using a new class of high-efficiency multi-junction solar cell, created from two or more materials and leveraging Boeing technology that makes semiconductor materials more reliable. The record was set without concentration, the common practice of having lenses or mirrors focus solar rays on the cells.
"We expect this solar cell technology will have significant benefits for space, ground-based, and sensor applications," said Troy Dawson, president of Spectrolab.
Spectrolab believes this solar cell technology can attain higher levels of efficiency, "possibly more than 45 percent even under low concentrations," according to Nasser Karam, the company’s vice president for advanced technology.
Spectrolab, which is part of the Boeing Defense, Space & Security unit, is the world's leading merchant supplier of high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells and panels for concentrated photovoltaic and spacecraft power systems. Spectrolab offers sensors and solar simulators, in addition to being the world’s leading provider of airborne searchlights.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $33 billion business with 59,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.
# # #

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2645

 

C est bien beau mais la traduction aiderai pour certain non?

 

Il suffit de demander ;-)

SPECTROLAB archives de cellules solaires rendement de conversion de 37,8% sans concentration

SYLMAR, Californie, 9 Avril 2013 -

Une cellule solaire Spectrolab a récemment établi un record du monde en convertissant plus d'énergie du soleil en électricité que n'importe quelle autre cellule solaire au sol sans concentration solaire .
L'Boeing [NYSE: BA] La réalisation de cette filiale dans le sol à base de rendement des cellules solaires a été vérifiée par le ministère du Laboratoire national des énergies renouvelables de l'énergie à Golden, dans le Colorado US
La cellule a converti 37,8 pour cent de l'énergie solaire en utilisant une nouvelle classe de haute efficacité cellules solaires multi-jonctions, créé à partir de deux ou plusieurs matériaux et misant sur ​​la technologie Boeing qui rend matériaux semi-conducteurs plus fiable. Le record a été établi sans la concentration, la pratique courante d'avoir des lentilles ou des miroirs concentrent les rayons solaires sur des cellules.
"Nous nous attendons que cette technologie de cellule solaire aura des retombées importantes pour l'espace, au sol, et les applications de capteurs", a déclaré Troy Dawson, président de Spectrolab.
Spectrolab estime que cette technologie de cellule solaire peut atteindre des niveaux plus élevés d'efficacité, "peut-être plus de 45 pour cent, même dans de faibles concentrations», selon Nasser Karam, vice-président de la société de technologie de pointe.
Spectrolab, qui fait partie du Boeing Defense , Space & Security unité, est le premier marchand fournisseur mondial de cellules solaires multi-jonctions à haut rendement et panneaux pour systèmes photovoltaïques à concentration et les systèmes d'alimentation de l'engin spatial. Spectrolab propose des capteurs et des simulateurs solaires, en plus d'être le premier fournisseur mondial de projecteurs suspension dans l'air.
une unité de la société Boeing, Boeing Defense, Space & Security est un des plus grands de la défense, de l'espace et de la sécurité des entreprises spécialisées en innovant et le monde des capacités- solutions axées sur la clientèle, et le plus grand et le plus polyvalent constructeur mondial d'avions militaires. Basée à St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security est une entreprise de 33 milliards de dollars avec 59.000 employés dans le monde.

 

[FONT=Arial","sans-serif]Sharp achieves 37.9% conversion efficiency for non-concentrator solar cell[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial","sans-serif]26.04.2013: Japanese technology company Sharp Corp. has produced a triple-junction compound solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 37.9%, a new world record for a non-concentrator solar cell at the research level. The results were confirmed by Japanese research facility the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Sharp’s triple-junction compound solar cell relies on three photo-absorption layers that are stacked together. The various layers absorb different wavelengths of sunlight, which leads to a higher maximum output than could be achieved by using just one material. These three layers are made up of indium gallium phosphide, gallium arsenide and indium gallium arsenide, respectively. The company hopes to eventually pair its cell technology with CPV technology to further increase conversion efficiency. Sharp does not say when it expects to commercialize the solar cells, but it envisions the cells being used on space satellites and solar-powered vehicles. Source: Sharp Corp.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial","sans-serif]http://www.sharp.co.jp[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial","sans-serif]http://sharp-world.com/corporate/news/130424.html[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial","sans-serif]The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial","sans-serif]http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/76146.pdf[/FONT]

Sharp Develops Solar Cell with World's Highest*1
Conversion Efficiency of 37.9%*2

Sets New Record with Triple-Junction Compound Solar Cell

Triple-junction compound solar cell
with the world's highest conversion efficiency of 37.9%
Sharp Corporation has achieved the world's highest solar cell conversion efficiency*1 of 37.9%*2 using a triple-junction compound solar cell in which three photo-absorption layers are stacked together.
Sharp achieved this latest breakthrough as a result of a research and development initiative promoted by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)*3 on the theme of "R&D on Innovative Solar Cells." Measurement of the value of 37.9%, which sets a new record for the world's highest conversion efficiency, was confirmed at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).
Compound solar cells utilize photo-absorption layers made from compounds consisting of two or more elements, such as indium and gallium. The basic structure of this latest triple-junction compound solar cell uses proprietary Sharp technology that enables efficient stacking of the three photo-absorption layers, with InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) as the bottom layer.
By optimizing the relative proportions of indium, gallium, and arsenide, Sharp succeeded in increasing the efficiency with which the cell absorbs sunlight at its various wavelengths. This improvement enabled Sharp to achieve the world's highest solar cell conversion efficiency*1 of 37.9%*2.
Sharp's aim for the future is to apply this latest development success to concentrator photovoltaic power systems that use lenses to collect and convert sunlight into electricity. The company also foresees numerous other practical applications for the cells, such as on space satellites and vehicles.
Wavelength Distribution of Solar Photo-Energy and Wavelength Sensitivity of Triple-Junction Compound Solar Cell


Structure of Triple-Junction
Compound Solar Cell

• ・InGaP: Indium Gallium Phosphide
• ・GaAs: Gallium Arsenide
• ・InGaAs: Indium Gallium Arsenide
• ・Tunnel junction: Semiconductor junction where electricity flows as if through metal

 

Le CEA, l'Université de Corse et HELION (Groupe Areva) ont inauguré le 9 janvier 2012, à Ajaccio, au Centre de Recherches scientifiques Georges Peri, la plateforme de recherche et développement solaire et stockage de l'énergie : MYRTE.
Cette plateforme soutenue par la Collectivité Territoriale de Corse, l'Etat et l'Europe a pour objectif d'expérimenter et rendre possible l'intégration massive des énergies renouvelables dans le bouquet énergétique de la Corse sur la base d'un couplage « Energies renouvelables – Hydrogène ».

Comment convertir l'énergie issue du soleil, soumise à des rendements aléatoires, en source électrique disponible à tout moment ?

C'est pour répondre à cette problématique qu'est né, en 2007, le projet MYRTE (Mission hydrogène renouvelable pour l'intégration au réseau électrique). Après cinq années de recherches, la plateforme MYRTE voit le jour à Ajaccio. La plateforme est constituée d'une centrale photovoltaïque, d'une puissance installée de 560 KWc sur 3.700 m2, reliée directement à une chaîne hydrogène, utilisée comme un moyen de stockage.

La plateforme MYRTE va permettre de développer un système et une stratégie de pilotage visant à améliorer la gestion et la stabilisation du réseau électrique corse. L'hydrogène, produit et stocké, permet de gérer les fluctuations de puissance des énergies renouvelables intermittentes intégrées dans le réseau.

Spécificité des iliens

Le réseau électrique corse présente toutes les caractéristiques des réseaux insulaires : de petite dimension, sensible aux variations de production, limité en capacité de nouveaux moyens de production, avec une forte augmentation de la demande en électricité. Parmi les moyens mis en œuvre pour répondre à ce besoin croissant en énergie, les énergies renouvelables sont particulièrement adaptées au contexte ilien.

Les énergies renouvelables sont des énergies dites intermittentes pour le photovoltaïque et l'éolien, et des énergies dites garanties concernant l'hydraulique, la biomasse, le biogaz et la géothermie. Les énergies renouvelables intermittent es sont ainsi nommées car elles connaissent de fortes variations temporelles, et ne garantissent donc pas un apport continu de puissance au réseau ni son équilibre entre production et consommation d'électricité.




Aujourd'hui, l'utilisation d'énergie fossile est importante dans certaines régions ensoleillées comme la Corse ou les DOM-TOM. Le but de la plateforme MYRTE est de stocker l'énergie via un électrolyseur, qui convertit l'électricité en hydrogène et oxygène pendant les heures de faible consommation. Cette énergie est ensuite restituée via une pile à combustible , qui reconvertit l'hydrogène et l'oxygène en électricité sur le réseau pendant les heures de fortes consommations, c'est-à-dire le soir alors que les panneaux photovoltaïques ne produisent plus.

Tout ceci dans le but de limiter effectivement le recours aux centrales thermiques et de s'affranchir de la limite de 30 % d'intégration des énergies renouvelables intermittentes imposée par l'arrêté du 23 avril 2008.

Les réseaux électriques insulaires, non interconnectés, avec un fort taux d'intégration de sources renouvelables d'énergie nécessitent un dispositif permettant de gérer l'intermittence de celles-ci (régulation, stockage).



L'hydrogène, produit et stocké, permet de gérer les fluctuations de puissance des énergies renouvelables intermittentes intégrées dans le réseau.

Il s'agira d'examiner la capacité du système à répondre à un objectif d'écrêtage de la pointe appelée par le réseau électrique (appui au réseau de distribution) et au lissage de la puissance photovoltaïque produite (limiter les fluctuations et perturbations sur le réseau électrique).

De plus, d'autres travaux comme l'étude du vieillissement des matériaux, des systèmes, mais aussi la confrontation des résultats du logiciel de simulation et dimensionnement ORIENTE avec la réalité pourront être effectués. D'autres stratégies de fonctionnement pourront être envisagées afin d'étudier leurs impacts sur le contrôle commande du système.



La plateforme MYRTE est dédiée au couplage entre un champ photovoltaïque et une chaîne hydrogène utilisée comme un moyen de stockage.

La charge, c'est-à-dire la fourniture au réseau électrique, peut-être dans ce cas alimentée par le champ photovoltaïque ou par la pile à combustible via l'hydrogène stocké. Différentes stratégies de fonctionnement sont établies et implémentées dans le contrôle commande du système, mais aussi à partir de simulations obtenues grâce au logiciel ORIENTE . Ce logiciel, développé par l'Université de Corse, est dédié aux systèmes hybrides couplés à une chaîne hydrogène. Cet outil permet de simuler la répartition des flux énergétiques au cours du temps entre les différents sous-systèmes en intégrant leurs comportements caractéristiques. Dans le cadre de MYRTE, ORIENTE a permis de simuler, dimensionner et optimiser le système énergétique.

Avantages du couplage énergie solaire et vecteur hydrogène

La coproduction d'électricité et d'hydrogène – vecteur énergétique – à partir d'énergie solaire présente permet de fournir un carburant non polluant, l'hydrogène sans émission de gaz à effet de serre.





Cette technologie vise à :

• l'écrêtage des pics de consommation, en restituant le soir sur le réseau l'énergie électrique stockée,
• l'atténuation des variations de production liées au passage de nuages par exemple,
• la limitation des surtensions liées à la forte production photovoltaïque dans un contexte de faible consommation.

En ce sens, un système de type MYRTE pourra contribuer à limiter les contraintes techniques liées à une pénétration massive de l'énergie photovoltaïque sur le réseau électrique.

La chaleur produite par la pile à combustible et l' électrolyseur pourra être valorisée en apportant de l'eau chaude à des bâtiments annexes ou en les chauffant.



http://www.enerzine.com/1/13272+corse---stocker-de-lenergie-photovoltaique-via-lhydrogene+.html

 

[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]Australian researchers use hydrogen to improve quality of low-grade silicon[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif] UNSW Scientia Professor Stuart Wenham says new process will lead to higher module efficiencies and lower prices[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif] © UNSW[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]07.05.2013: Engineers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia have developed a new method to dramatically improve the quality of low-grade silicon for solar applications. The researchers believe their breakthrough will lead to significantly higher module conversion efficiencies as well as lower solar panel prices. The breakthrough involves using hydrogen atoms to correct defects in the silicon used to make solar cells. It’s been known for several decades that hydrogen atoms can be introduced into the atomic structure of silicon to help correct defects, but until now, researchers have had limited success in controlling the hydrogen to maximize its benefits. The UNSW engineers have now discovered a mechanism to control hydrogen atoms in this context. »This process will allow lower-quality silicon to outperform solar cells made from better-quality materials,« explains Stuart Wenham from the School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering at UNSW. »Standard commercial silicon cells currently have a maximum efficiency of around 19%. The new technique, patented by UNSW researchers earlier this year, is expected to produce efficiencies between 21% and 23%.« The UNSW team has eight industry partners interested in commercializing the technology and is working with manufacturing equipment companies to implement the new process. The UNSW project, supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, is expected to be completed in 2016. UNSW notes that it still holds the world-record for silicon cell efficiency, 25%. © PHOTON[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/technology/solar-discovery-sets-new-r[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif] ecord-low-grade-silicon[/FONT]



[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/76450.pdf[/FONT]

 

SMA à Intersolar Europe 2013 : innovations pour l’approvisionnement énergétique du futur


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Contact presse
Anja Jasper
SMA Solar Technology AG
Sonnenallee 1
34266 Niestetal
Germany

Anja.Jasper@sma.de


Niestetal/Munich, le 15 avril 2013 – SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA) présentera ses dernières solutions innovantes en matière d’approvisionnement énergétique de demain au salon Intersolar Europe, du 19 au 21 juin 2013 à Munich. À cette occasion, SMA dévoilera son éventail de solutions parfaitement adaptées à chaque application photovoltaïque tel que le SMA Smart Home, système de gestion énergétique complet et intelligent destiné aux particuliers. Seront également à découvrir la solution Fuel Save, un système d’alimentation électrique économique pour les applications industrielles dans les régions ensoleillées, ainsi que des solutions clés en main pour les grandes installations photovoltaïques. Les visiteurs pourront également découvrir la nouvelle génération d’onduleurs centraux SMA dont la commercialisation est prévue pour 2014.
Les technologies de pointe intelligentes sont la clé d’une transformation réussie du secteur énergétique
« SMA s’est attelée dès le début à répondre aux besoins de l’approvisionnement énergétique du futur. Nos technologies intelligentes sont la clé de la transformation réussie du secteur énergétique en un secteur capable de fournir un approvisionnement décentralisé à partir de sources d’énergies renouvelables », explique Roland Grebe, Directeur Recherche et Développement de SMA. Avec le SMA Smart Home, l’entreprise offre un concept unique sur le marché, capable de commander intelligemment des appareils ménagers en se basant sur des prévisions de production et de consommation photovoltaïques et, de ce fait, d’augmenter sensiblement l’autoconsommation d’électricité solaire. « Outre la version optimisée du Sunny Home Manager, élément central du SMA Smart Home, nous présenterons également des solutions de stockage complètes répondant à diverses exigences. Nous travaillons en étroite collaboration avec des fabricants renommés afin de garantir l’intégration optimale des composants supplémentaires dans le système de gestion intelligente de l’énergie. Pour l’intégration des appareils ménagers, nous avons choisi Miele et pour celle des pompes à chaleur, notre choix s’est porté sur Stiebel Eltron et Vaillant. Nous avons hâte d’échanger sur ce sujet avec les professionnels de l’énergie solaire », déclare Roland Grebe. Par ailleurs, il souligne que l’intégration de la mobilité électrique constitue également un thème majeur. Les batteries des véhicules électriques peuvent être potentiellement utilisées comme une source de stockage supplémentaire de l’électricité.
Solution économe en carburant pour systèmes hybrides photovoltaïque-diesel
L’intelligence au sein du système est également déterminante pour les systèmes hybrides photovoltaïque-diesel. La solution Fuel Save de SMA permet de réduire le temps de fonctionnement au diesel et de faire considérablement baisser la consommation de carburant par le biais d’une régulation de l’alimentation photovoltaïque axée sur les besoins. Dans ce contexte, SMA dévoilera aux visiteurs du salon des projets phares réussis.
Mise en valeur de produits à hautes performances et de futures technologies
Les produits phares du segment des grandes centrales photovoltaïques sont la MV Power Station et la plateforme Compact MV Power Platform, spécialement conçue pour le marché américain et répondant ainsi à toutes les exigences américaines spécifiques aux onduleurs, transformateurs et dispositifs de commande de parc à partir d’une seule source. SMA présentera également ses solutions complètes destinées aux grandes installations photovoltaïques à architecture décentralisée. Les puissants Sunny Tripower constituent le socle de ces solutions autour desquelles sont incorporées des systèmes de communication pour le contrôle de parc et la connexion moyenne tension. « Les visiteurs de notre stand pourront également entrevoir ce que réserve l’avenir : sur le point d’introduire le futur concept de sa nouvelle génération d’onduleurs centraux, SMA présentera également les standards à venir en matière d’intégration, d’optimisation des coûts et d’internationalisation », a déclaré Roland Grebe.
Pour en savoir plus sur les nombreuses innovations de SMA, nous vous donnons rendez-vous sur nos stands B5.210 et B5.230.
À propos de SMA
Avec un chiffre d’affaires de 1,5 milliard d’euros en 2012, SMA est le leader mondial dans le domaine des onduleurs photovoltaïques, un élément central de toute installation photovoltaïque. En tant que spécialiste de la gestion de l’énergie, la société propose des technologies novatrices destinées aux futures structures d’approvisionnement énergétique. La société a son siège social à Niestetal à proximité de Kassel (Allemagne) et est représentée sur la scène internationale dans 21 pays. SMA emploie plus de 5 000 collaborateurs dans le monde. SMA produit une vaste gamme d’onduleurs adaptés à tous types de panneaux photovoltaïques et à toutes les puissances d’installations photovoltaïques. La gamme de produits comprend des onduleurs tant pour les installations couplées au réseau que pour les systèmes en site isolé. Par conséquent, SMA peut fournir des solutions d’onduleurs techniques idéales pour tous les types et toutes les tailles d’installations. Depuis 2008, la société-mère, SMA Solar Technology AG, est cotée au Prime Standard de la Bourse de Francfort (S92) et enregistrée au TecDAX. Au cours des dernières années, la société SMA a reçu de nombreux prix pour ses qualités d’employeur et a récemment décroché la première place du concours allemand « Great Place to Work® » en 2011 et 2012.

SMA Solar Technology AG
Sonnenallee 1
D-34266 Niestetal
Germany
Directrice Communication Institutionnelle :
Anja Jasper
Tél. +49 561 9522-28 05
Presse@SMA.de
Contact presse :
Susanne Henkel
Responsable presse
Tél. +49 561 9522-11 24
Fax +49 561 9522-421400
Presse@SMA.de
Contact relations investisseurs :
Julia Damm
Directrice des Relations investisseurs
Tél. : +49 561 9522-22 22
Fax +49 561 9522-22 23
IR@SMA.de

Clause de non-responsabilité :
Ce communiqué de presse a pour seul but d’informer et ne constitue en aucun cas une offre ou une sollicitation d’achat, de conservation ou de vente de titres de SMA Solar Technology AG (« société) ou d’une filiale existante ou future (conjointement avec la société : « groupe SMA). De plus, ce communiqué de presse ne doit pas être considéré comme base d’un accord s’adressant à l’achat ou la vente de titres de la société ou d’une entreprise du groupe SMA.
Ce document peut contenir des déclarations prospectives. Par déclarations prospectives, on entend des déclarations décrivant des événements à venir, non passés. Les déclarations portant sur nos attentes et hypothèses en font également partie. Ces déclarations sont basées sur les planifications, les estimations et les prévisions actuellement à disposition de la direction de SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA ou société). Pour cette raison, les déclarations prospectives ne sont valables que le jour où elles sont effectuées. D’autre part, les déclarations prospectives comprennent, de par leur nature, des risques et des facteurs incertains. De nombreux risques connus comme inconnus, des incertitudes et d’autres facteurs peuvent amener les résultats effectifs, la situation financière, le développement ou la performance de la société à différer significativement des estimations effectuées dans le présent communiqué. Ces facteurs incluent ceux que SMA a décrits dans des rapports publiés. Ces rapports sont disponibles sur le site Internet de SMA sous www.SMA.de. La société n’est pas tenue d’actualiser ces déclarations prospectives ni de les réviser en fonction des événements ou des évolutions futurs.

 

[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]Silevo introduces 355 W module with 72 solar cells[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]21.06.2013: US-based cell and module manufacturer Silevo Inc. has introduced a 355 W module that relies on 72 of the company’s proprietary Triex 156 mm cells. Silevo’s Triex technology, a hybrid solution of thin-film and crystalline silicon materials, delivers high efficiency and high energy yield with scalable, cost-effective manufacturing processes. This achievement was made possible by scaling up Silevo’s Triex solar cell technology to a larger cell substrate of 156 mm through R&D work conducted in Fremont, California. The company explains the benefits of the larger cell substrate: »Today’s production-proven efficiency leaders that produce cells above 20% efficiency struggle to scale cell sizes beyond 125 mm substrates due to fundamental limitations of cell architectures and choice of materials. However, 125 mm cells create non-standard module form factors that require unique mounting structure and system designs, thereby limiting economies of scale and cost savings. By contrast, Silevo’s hybrid tunneling junction architecture overcomes these limitations to produce greater than 21% efficiency on 156 mm size substrates. Silevo’s cells can therefore be seamlessly integrated into industry-standard 60- and 72-cell module form factors serving the rooftop and utility-scale market segments.« © PHOTON[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://silevosolar.com[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://silevosolar.com/category/news-events/press-releases/[/FONT]

 

[FONT="Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"]German scientists develop cheap solar cell that produces hydrogen[/FONT]
[FONT="Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"]30.07.2013: Researchers from Germany’s Helmholtz Centre (HZB) and the Technical University of Delft were able to store 5% of solar energy chemically in the form of hydrogen using a conventional solar cell and a photo anode made of metal oxide. According to the Helmholtz centre, a photo anode made of bismuth vanadate (BiV04) was sprayed onto conducting glass and coated with a cobalt phosphate catalyst. When the system is exposed to sunlight it splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The metal oxide layer acts as a photo anode and becomes the site of oxygen formation, thereby releasing hydrogen in a process called artificial photosynthesis. The resulting hydrogen can be used as a fuel directly or in the form of methane. Alternatively, the hydrogen can be used to generate electricity in a fuel cell. »Basically, we combined the best of both worlds. We start with a chemically stable, low cost metal oxide, add a really good but simple silicon-based thin film solar cell, and – voilà – we’ve just created a cost-effective, highly stable, and highly efficient solar fuel device,« explains Roel van de Krol, head of the HZB Institute for Solar Fuels. Theoretically, a solar-to-chemical efficiency of up to 9% is possible when using a photo anode made from BiV04, says van de Krol. The next step for the research team will be to scale up the results to several square meters. © PHOTON[/FONT]
[FONT="Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"]http://www.helmholtz-berlin.de[/FONT]
[FONT="Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"]http://www.helmholtz-berlin.de/pubbin/news_seite?nid=13764&sprache=en&
typoid=1[/FONT]
[FONT="Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"]The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:[/FONT]
[FONT="Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"]http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/79029.pdf[/FONT]

 

les copiés-collés sans commentaires personnels sont très instructifs

 

ça montre au moins que ça bouge dans le monde du photovoltaïque.

Et qui sait, bientôt, le photovoltaïque pourra être rentable non 'artificiellement' (sans prime, CV, et autre invention de nos politiques.)

 

cela montre aussi qu'ils cherchent un système pour stoquer l'énergie en surplus.

 

[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]Science & technology[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]MIT researchers demonstrate how heat can be used to improve solar cell efficiency[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]11.11.2013: Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently demonstrated a photonic-crystal based thermophotovoltaic system that converts heat to electricity. MIT reports that the researchers paired a one-dimensional silicon/silicon dioxide photonic crystal emitter with an indium gallium arsenide antimonide (InGaAsSb) PV cell to reach thermophotovoltaic efficiency above 5%. Moreover, using theoretical modeling, the researchers predicted that solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) system efficiencies exceeding 10% could be achieved using two-dimensional tantalum photonic crystals for the emitter/absorber and a tandem filter with a simple planar layout. Data from the one-dimensional photonic crystal experiments matched predicted results within experimental uncertainty, thus validating the models. © PHOTON[/FONT]



[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://www.mit.edu[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/enhancing-solar-cells-with-heat.html[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/82176.pdf[/FONT]

 

[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]Imec announces 20.2% efficiency for i-PERC solar cells[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif] Imec has achieved a 20.2% conversion efficiency for an i-PERC-type silicon solar cell using a new processing sequence.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif] © IMEC[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]28.11.2013: Belgian nanoelectronics research institute Imec announced that it has achieved a 20.2% conversion efficiency for an i-PERC-type silicon solar cell using a new process. According to Imec, the result was made possible by adopting a new processing sequence based on laser doping from a thin atomic layer deposited (ALD) aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer. The new process, which enables the local aluminum Back Surface Field (BSF) and Ni/Cu plating to form the front contact, eliminates the necessity of a firing step to create the local BSF in i-PERC solar cells and provides lower temperatures for the metallization process. Reducing the temperature was the key factor that enabled Imec to raise the efficiency of I-PERC solar cells, according to the institute. © PHOTON[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://www.imec.be[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://www2.imec.be/be_en/press/imec-news/imecpercaldaloxeng.html[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif]http://www.photon.info/newsletter/document/82680.pdf[/FONT]

 

ce qui est bien c'est que c'est Belge ;-)

 

Surprises From First Solar: TetraSun Acquired for High-Efficiency Silicon

Surprises From First Solar: TetraSun Acquired for High-Efficiency Silicon
First Solar just acquired a high-efficiency silicon solar cell company?


Eric Wesoff
April 9, 2013
First Solar (FSLR) is full of surprises today.

On the heels of announcing a new world record in cadmium telluride module efficiency, as well as guiding 2013 revenue beyond analyst predictions, First Solar just announced the acquisition of a small solar company.

The firm is TetraSun, a fourteen-person startup that has developed a silicon cell architecture able to hit 21 percent efficiency at low cost, according to claims. Terms for the acquisition from JX Nippon Oil & Energy and other investors were not disclosed. TetraSun is helmed by CEO Denis De Ceuster and has raised $12 million from equity investors and strategic customers including JX Nippon. CEO De Ceuster was at SunPower for ten years prior to joining TetraSun in 2009.

TetraSun completed a SunShot Initiative PV Incubator grant from the DOE and delivered a full area cell efficiency of more than 20 percent last year. According to a release, "TetraSun's new cell concept is based on a novel surface passivation technology that enables the use of 50-um-wide copper electrodes instead of screen-printed silver metallization. Without demanding special equipment for the manufacturing process, cell Voc values in excess of 700mV are achieved on monocrystalline Czochralski-grown silicon." The technology also has a lower temperature coefficient than typical silicon PV modules, according to First Solar.

First Solar has made the aggressive claim of beginning "commercial-scale manufacturing of the new technology in the second half of 2014."

It's a seemingly enormous step for First Solar, which acknowledges that it needs to “unlock the half of the PV market that favors high-efficiency solutions, which has been unserved by First Solar to date," in the words of First Solar CEO Jim Hughes. The CEO went on to use the words "distributed generation applications," a market that First Solar has not pursued until now. First Solar remains the leading EPC in utility-scale solar power plants.

If the technology from TetraSun scales inexpensively (see the list of deceased solar companies), it puts First Solar far more at odds with SunPower than it is even now. And it opens up the high-growth third-party-ownership residential market as well.

First Solar has led and abandoned development efforts in other materials systems such as CIGS.

***

First Solar just announced full-year 2013 guidance on its 2013 analyst day in New York and came in far above consensus with a revenue guidance of $3.8 billion to $4.0 billion on shipments between 1.6 gigawatts and 1.8 gigawatts. An estimated $3.6 billion in the firm's sales will come from sales of systems. First Solar expects gross margin to be between 20 percent and 22 percent. According to a memo from its analyst day, First Solar looks to generate $0.8 billion to $1.0 billion of operating cash flow in 2013.

The company also announced that its manufacturing cost will be $0.63 to $0.66 per watt in 2013, and will plunge to $0.40 per watt by 2017.

First Solar shares jumped on the news and trading was actually halted because of the stock's volatility. Other solar stocks such as SPWR, TSL, LDK, STP, and WFR also climbed higher today.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/artic...TetraSun-Acquired-For-High-Efficiency-Silicon

 

Alta Devices Chasing Military and Portable Solar, iPad Chargers

Alta Devices Chasing Military and Portable Solar, iPad Chargers
Alta’s reference design applies the firm’s record-setting photovoltaic cells—but not to rooftops.


Eric Wesoff
January 6, 2013
In a marketplace with viciously plunging solar module costs, what strategy best serves a startup solar cell manufacturer?

Well, if you're Alta Devices, you stay away from rooftops and solar fields, at least for now, and go after military and portable markets -- where efficiency is crucial and price-per-watt is much less important.

Alta has made technical strides in flexible gallium arsenide (GaAs) photovoltaics, setting records for the materials system and able to boast NREL-verified 28.8 percent cell efficiencies for a single-junction solar cell. (The theoretical maximum solar cell efficiency limit for a single-junction device, the Shockley-Queisser limit, is 33.5 percent. SunPower's crystalline silicon Gen 3 cells have efficiencies in excess of 23 percent.)

Alta Devices uses an epitaxial lift-off (ELO) technique pioneered by Eli Yablonovitch that produces flexible layers of GaAs that are one micron thick. Substrate re-use and cost is an issue in this type of technology, as it is with Crystal Solar and Solexel. Alta still has to scale and scrub away cost in the face of technical and economic challenges with ELO and the firm's novel MOCVD processes.

Late last year, Chris Norris, the firm's CEO, spoke of a 10-watt iPad cover in the MIT Technology Review, which reported that Alta had "started selling solar panels to the military to power small unmanned aerial vehicles, and by the end of next year it plans to start selling an iPad cover powerful enough to make plugging in unnecessary."

This week Alta announced "reference designs" for solar chargers using the company's cells in portable power, military, automotive, and unmanned systems. Reference designs are presumably provided to ease integrating Alta's cells into an OEM's end product. So, Alta is now in the high-efficiency solar cell business. And maybe in the charger business.

These applications suit the high efficiency and light weight of Alta's thin-film solar cells. Recall that these are also applications pursued by CIGS vendor Global Solar, amorphous silicon vendor ECD, and organic solar cell vendor Konarka, may they rest in peace. What Alta does have that GSE or ECD or Konarka didn't is the potential to bring really high efficiencies to these applications.

All of this has to be done at a reasonable cost -- although one could imagine selling prices closer to $10 per watt in these niche markets instead of the current $0.75 per watt in the rooftop solar business. These portable power products don't have to carry twenty-year guarantees, either.

Norris, in an email, told GTM today that lifetimes for this type of product are "two or three years typically. For these types of applications, the method and materials used to encapsulate the films are the primary factors in how long the product will last. That's a choice of economics and requirements. Our films, as you know, have very long lifetimes and are fundamentally suitable for 25+ year lifetime utility installations and use in space."

The CEO said, "We have about 2 megawatts of capacity in place in our pilot line located in Sunnyvale. We have been shipping small volumes throughout 2012 and will be focused on fully ramping the pilot line in 2013." He had told GTM earlier that the firm remains "agnostic" about whether the end-product is a cell, a flexible module, or a rigid glass module.

Alta Devices has raised $120 million from investors including KPCB, NEA, August Capital, Crosslink Capital, DAG Ventures, NEA, Presidio Ventures, Technology Partners, Dow Chemical, Aimco, Good Energies, Energy Technology Ventures, and Constellation Energy.

Can GaAs and Alta ever transition onto the rooftop? Can GaAs production scale big?

Or is Alta limited to these niche markets? Can these niche markets provide the growth and heft that a VC-funded startup needs? Other solar startups with cell-level innovations such as Solexel or Silevo are going after module markets rather than portable power, a choice with its own set of challenges.

The CEO said, "Overall, we're pleased with the progress we've made technically. Our efforts are transitioning away from fundamental technology development and toward yields and equipment productivity. We're excited about the multitude of opportunities we've found (and continue to uncover) to solve problems and create value by generating energy solutions for things that move, can be carried or worn. While our current focus is airborne and ground-based solutions for the military, markets such as consumer electronics, transportation and other forms of portable energy generation are future opportunities."

Norris noted, "You would be surprised at how large these 'off-grid' markets can potentially be -- gigawatts. And there are dozens of sub-markets in this greater bucket of 'off-grid' energy, of different sizes and margin/pricing requirements. We think there's a way to systematically develop products for these markets that matches the market to the different levels of scale as we grow the company over the coming years. For a company like us, it's the holy grail -- the ability to profitably address a few unique markets while the technology is immature, and then methodically expand into larger markets as we gain learning and create more manufacturing scale."

Here are the specs for Alta Devices' 24 Percent Efficient Solar Charging Mat:








And the firm's GaAs solar cell.

 

Quick Take: Just last week, Honda joined a vehicle-to-grid trial. As I said then, why go to the expense of installing a bi-directional charger and why degrade a car's battery with additional discharge cycles when you can get almost the same benefit by smart charging?



But if for some reason smart charging wasn't enough, I still don't think that V2G is the next logical step. Wouldn't it be smarter and cheaper to try vehicle-to-building instead? That very concept is being tested now in Japan. - By Jesse Berst





smart grid, energy storage, electric vehicles, EVs, vehicle-to-building, Nissan, smart grid R&D
Nissan Leafs in concept test
The smart grid of the future will need a lot of energy storage. Some of that storage could come from electric vehicles (EVs). Imagine millions of electric cars with large battery packs, adding up to a significant amount of storage.



Nissan is testing the concept of vehicle-to-building at its Advanced Technology Center in Atsugi City, Japan, reports Michael Graham Richard at Treehugger.com. The facility controls the charging of six Nissan Leaf EVs. It is smart enough to make sure that the EVs are charged when needed. Active since July, the trial has led to a 2.5% reduction during peak hours, a savings of nearly $5,000 per year.



The Nissan Leaf battery pack can store 24 kilowatt-hours of electric energy.



Jesse Berst is the founder and Chief Analyst of SGN and Chairman of the Smart Cities Council, an industry coalition.

 

SMA and Danfoss will create one of the world's largest converter alliances: Danfoss acquires 20% of SMA's outstanding shares and plans to sell its complete solar inverter business to SMA.

http://www.sma.de/en/newsroom/curre...-of-the-worlds-largest-converter-allianc.html

 

Imec Achieves Record 8.4 Percent Conversion Efficiency in Fullerene-Free Organic Solar Cells




11/3/2014


Innovations in Materials and Structure Support Breakthrough Achievement in Organic Solar Cells
Leuven (Belgium)—(March 11, 2014)—In this week’s Nature Communications imec presents the development of fullerene-free organic photovoltaic (OPV) multilayer stacks achieving a record conversion efficiency of 8.4 percent. This breakthrough achievement is an important step to bring organic photovoltaic cells to a higher level in the competitive thin-film photovoltaics marketplace.
Organic solar cells are an interesting thin-film photovoltaic technology due to their compatibility with flexible substrates and tunable absorption window. Although the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells has increased rapidly in the last decade, further enhancements are needed to make the production of organic photovoltaics more easily scalable into industrial production processes. Imec’s organic solar cells with record 8.4 percent power conversion efficiency were realized by introducing two innovations. Firstly, the implementation of fullerene-free acceptor materials resulted in high open-circuit voltages and useful absorption spectra in the visible. Secondly, high short-circuit currents were achieved by developing a multilayer device structure of three active semiconductor layers with complementary absorption spectra, and an efficient exciton harvesting mechanism.
Fullerenes are the dominant acceptor materials in current OPV cells due to their ability to accept stable electrons and their high electron mobility. However, the small absorption overlap with the solar spectrum limits the photocurrent generation in fullerene acceptors, and their deep energy level for electron conduction limits the open-circuit voltage. Imec implemented two fullerene-free materials as acceptor, increasing open-circuit voltages compared to OPV cells with fullerene acceptors.
To increase the efficiency of organic solar cells, complex tandem architectures are often proposed to combine the exciton harvesting of multiple photo-active materials. The imec team now proposes a simple three-layer stack to improve the spectral responsivity range. This device architecture comprises two fullerene-free acceptors and a donor, arranged as discrete heterojunctions. In addition to the traditional exciton dissociation at the central donor-acceptor interface, the excitons generated in the outer acceptor layer are first relayed by energy transfer to the central acceptor, and subsequently dissociated at the donor interface. This results in a quantum efficiency above 75 percent between 400nm and 720nm. With an open-circuit voltage close to 1V, a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 8.4 percent is achieved. These results confirm that multilayer cascade structures are a promising alternative to conventional donor-fullerene organic solar cells.
These results were presented in Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4406).
The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement 287818 (X10D) and under ERC Grant Agreement 320680 (EPOS CRYSTALLI), and from the INTERREG IV-A Euregio Maas-Rijn project ORGANEXT (EMR. INT4-1.2.-2009-04/054).

—end—

Caption: Imec’s novel fullerene-free OPV cell concept was used to process an OPV module (156cm2) with a conversion efficiency of 5.3%.
Click on the picture to download the high-res version.​

About imec
Imec performs world-leading research in nanoelectronics. Imec leverages its scientific knowledge with the innovative power of its global partnerships in ICT, healthcare and energy. Imec delivers industry-relevant technology solutions. In a unique high-tech environment, its international top talent is committed to providing the building blocks for a better life in a sustainable society. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, U.S., China, India and Japan. Its staff of more than 2,080 people includes more than 670 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2012, imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 320 million euro. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec.be.Stay up to date on what’s happening at imec with the monthly imec magazine available on tablets and smartphones (as an app for iOS and Android) or via the website at www.imec.be/imecmagazine.
Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a "stichting van openbaar nut”), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Flemish Government), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch Government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.) and imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.) and imec India (Imec India Private Limited).

http://www2.imec.be/be_en/press/imec-news/imec-organic-solar-cells-photovoltaics.html