An introduction to solar cellsHanne Lauritzen, Danish Technological Institute

What is a solar cell?

A brief description of the working principle

Applications

Grid-connected installations

Energy production

Wafer-based solar cells vs. thin film cells

Semitransparent panels

A solar cell is a device that converts light energy to electrical energy

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A solar cell is a device that converts light energy to electrical energy . . .

Rules of thumb: 1 m2 ~ 100 Wp ~ 9 kWh/year

Typical one-family house installation: 2-5 kW or 20 – 50 m2

Pay-back time: 4 - 5 years for energyca. 30 years for investment

Large area

South-facing

No shadows

Tilted

How to evaluate the energy production?

Depends on the local weather conditions, the orientation, the temperature, eventual shading …….

energy input

energy outputT = 25OC

1000 W/m2

to be measured

Nominal power – energy output under standardized conditions,1000 W/m2, 25OC, AM 1.5 – Watt peak, WpEfficiency = Energy output / Energy input

1000 W/m2 x area

10 %100 Wp

10 %50 Wp

20 %100 Wp

The nominal effect Wp allows you to compare the energy output from various panels

The efficiency allows you to compare the energy output per area

- but how do we compare with other energy sources?

How to compare with other energy sources?

Price per kWh

annual production, cost of installation, expected life time for installation

local weather conditions, the orientation, the efficiency of the panel

  PRODUCT LIGHT ENERGYPRODUCTION PRICE

  åbningsgrad per panel per area per energy per area

      (%) (kWh/year) (kWh/year.m2) (DKK/Wp) (DKK/m2)

MSK Si, amorf 10 30 30 550 200

Si, amorf 5 35 35 500 200

Schott Solar Si, amorf 10 20 30 300 100

GSK Si, amorf 20 30 15 350 75

Würth Solar

CIS 10 45 60 200 150

CIS 40 30 40 300 150

CIS 50 25 35 350 150

PhotoSolar Si, amorf 19 50 26 250 145

Gaia/IdealCombi Si, multi ? ? ? ? ?

REF., ENERGY Si, multi 0 105 105 100 100

REF., LIGHT Si, multi 49 50 40 250 100

Crystalline silicon solar cells made from wafers

”The black diamond”

Efficiency: 20 %

Efficiency: 0 %

energy input

energy outputT = 25OC

1000 W/m2 x area of cell

0,01 W

Efficiency = Energy output / Energy input

Efficiency of unit producing 0.01 W energy, input energy 1000 W/m2

Area: 10 cm x 10 cm = 100 cm2

Energy input: 1000 W/m2 x 100 cm2 = 0.1 W

Efficiency: 0.1 W / 0.01 W = 10 %

Area: 100cm2 – 64 x 0.25 cm2 = 84 cm2

Energy input: 1000 W/m2 x 84 cm2 = 0.084 W

Efficiency: 0.01 W / 0.084 W = 12 %

Efficiency of the unit

Efficiency of the active area

CIGS products from Würth Solar- uniform dark grey appearance

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Great Cell - Australien

www.orgionenergy.com.au/sliver