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The advanced development of large-scale solar power plants (LSSPs) has made it necessary to improve accurate forecasting models for the output of solar energy. Solar energy is still hampered by the lack of predictability in its output, which remains a major hurdle in the solar industry. This paper focuses on triple deep learning (DL) techniques such as Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) and Convolutional Neural Network- Long-Short Term Memory CNN-LSTM to address this problem. These techniques are utilized in solar energy variables (SEVs) such as power generation (MWh), soiling loss (%), and performance ratio (PR %) to determine the optimal forecast model. The novelty of this research is that it is the first time that important solar system parameters such as PR and soiling loss have been studied to predict a feasible forecast model using a different DL scheme. The SEVs real-time dataset is procured from the largest solar plant in Pakistan, titled "Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park" (QASP). The main significance of the study is that ANN, RNN, and CNN-LSTM-based models were developed in the DL process through feature generation, data scaling, training, and testing steps to predict the optimal model. The prediction values were compared with the solar plant's actual values over the last 7 years, and then a comparison was made to predict the future forecast trend over the next 20 years. The aim and goal is to develop three models to investigate the accurate results of time-series forecasting on the SEVs dataset, as well as to evaluate the performance measure errors to determine the appropriate model. Based on the forecasting/prediction graphic and error results, it was demonstrated that the CNN-LSTM hybrid model is a more capable forecasting model for the output of power generation and PR values and a more accurate predictor of the future trend over the ANN and RNN models. However, the ANN model is slightly better performed in predicting of soling loss value than CNN-SLTM and RNN. Thus, the CNN-LSTM hybrid model is an optimal model for SEVs, which can guarantee a variety of LSSPs of similar nature in the following time-series forecasting investigations which shows key findings and its importance for the solar industrial forecast issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimations of solar surface irradiance (SSI) derived from meteorological satellites are widely used by various actors in the solar industry. However, even state-of-the-art empirical and physical SSI retrieval models exhibit significant errors; the estimations provided by these models are thus traditionally corrected using ground-based measurements of SSI as references. The literature is rich with such correction methods, often called adaptation techniques. Most of the proposed models, however, are local or site-specific, i.e., they do not extrapolate the correction in space and are only applicable to the location of the ground-based measurements. In this work, we propose a novel global adaptation technique, that can extrapolate the correction in both space and time. To that end, we leverage (1) a dense network of measurement stations across France, (2) a relatively large number of predictors, and (3) a non-linear, sophisticated regression algorithm, the Extreme Gradient Boosting. The model is applied to the HelioClim3 database; its performance is benchmarked against raw HelioClim3 estimations, and alternative, simpler adaptation techniques. Our analysis shows that this global model significantly improves satellite-derived SSI estimations from the HelioClim3 database, even when the evaluation is carried out on measurement stations that were not part of the training set of the algorithm. Our proposed model also outperforms all tested alternative global adaptation techniques. These results suggest that global adaptation techniques leveraging advanced machine learning and high dimensionality have the potential to significantly improve satellite-derived SSI estimations, notably more than traditional adaptation approaches. There is certainly room for improvement, but the development of such techniques is a promising research topic. • A novel, non-linear and high-dimensional global adaptation model was developed. • The proposed model significantly and systematically outperforms HelioClim3. • Several benchmarks were developed to justify the design choices. • The benefits of non-linearity and high dimensionality were demonstrated. • The analysis of the dynamic of the spatial field of SSI revealed limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There is a big difference in solar PV production when simulated with different software such as PVsyst and COMSOL. • Changing the height of a bifacial solar installation does not make a big change in the production. • There is a large variation in solar production when simulating days with bad weather conditions with two different softwares. • With the same simulation method between softwares, PVSyst gives us a higher value for solar production in almost all cases. The solar energy industry is in constant evolution and the use of bifacials photovoltaic (PV) modules is one of the most recent innovations the industry adoptions. And even though bifacial technology has been present for as long as the monofacial technologies, bifacial solar modules have started to attract a lot of market attention; in fact, recent studies point out that the increasing interest for bifacial PV has aroused so much to predict a market share of 70% in 2030. The key feature that makes this possible is its design, which allows the module to capture sunlight from both sides of the panel increasing solar generation capacity by up to 25%, however this depends on factors such as: the irradiance factors, the module efficiency, the ground albedo, the tilt angle, the elevated height to the ground of the structure, the inter-row spacing and the array shading. Modeling and simulation of photovoltaic (PV) modules play an important role for technology development and evaluation of new designs and their interaction with the previously mentioned key factors. The project intends to analyze and comparing two irradiance numerical models. This comparison is made by simulating an identical bifacial PV solar installation (set-up) but using two different software with the capacity to carry out this type of analysis. Firstly, the study using PVsyst software, known for its widespread application in solar energy, and the other software was COMSOL Multiphysics, a Finite Element Method (FEM) based multiphysics simulation software to study and analyze optical and thermal performance of PV modules. For this comparative study, fixed irradiance conditions (during the year) were established, such as the equinoxes and solstices, to have different irradiance conditions and study their effect on the modeled bifacial modules. Finally, parametric studies of the following factors (design parameters) were carried out: ground albedo, tilt angle, inter-row spacing and height to the ground. In order to study the changes that these cause in the behavior of our system and also as a complement to this study and considering the great importance of the albedo for a bifacial installation, a field work has been carried out to measure it experimentally and validate the simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hydrophobic coating with dew suppression shows 50 ± 13 % reduction in soiling loss. • Hydrophobic coating without dew suppression shows 31 ± 15 % reduction in soiling loss. • Coating decreases the deposition of 10 to 30 μm particles by 60.0 ± 8.1% (mass) • Multiple dew events cause more milli-scale non-uniformity on the glass. The deposition of particulate matter (PM) on PV surfaces reduces energy generation, which results in huge losses to the PV industry. Hydrophobic coatings are known to reduce PM deposition on PV surfaces. Covering panels during the night is expected to reduce the PM deposition as well as suppress the dew formation on the surface. The objective of the present study is to compare the soiling on the hydrophobic coating with and without dew suppression. Uncoated and hydrophobic coated slides were kept for PM deposition in a 70-day field study. The dew formation was suppressed on some of the uncoated and coated slides by covering them from sunset to sunrise. The results show that the % reduction in soiling of coated slides under dew suppression is higher (50 ± 13%) compared to the coated slides without dew suppression (31 ± 15%) (statistically different; two-tailed p-value < 0.05). In addition, the particle size analysis using optical microscopy shows that the hydrophobic coating (under dew suppression) reduces the particles deposition by 60.0 ± 8.1% (mainly 10 to 30 μm range) compared to the uncoated slides (under dew suppression) over the entire sampling period. However, the dust potency (soiling loss per unit deposited mass loading) for uncoated and coated samples is found to be statistically similar (5 to 6 % g−1 m2; two-tailed p-values > 0.05). Overall, the present study advances the understanding of the impact of dew on hydrophobic coating, thereby adding to the existing knowledge of soiling mitigation approaches for solar PV industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new method for recycling DWSSP was proposed. • Direct current, as an auxiliary means, was used to enhance impurity separation process. • Recycled silicon had a purity of near 5.5 N. As the unavoidable by-products in the production of solar cells, the recycling and reuse of diamond-wire sawing silicon powder (DWSSP) have always been a key issue in the solar energy industry. However, until now, there is no effective method to achieve effective recovery of high-purity silicon. In this work, a new method was proposed to achieve the recycling of DWSSP. Direct current, as an external means, was introduced into the recycling process of DWSSP, and its influence mechanism on impurity removal process was also discussed. By optimizing the local temperature gradient at the front of the Solid-Liquid interface, and the impurity diffusion behavior at the front of the interface was improved. After purification, the impurity content in the silicon ingot is reduced significantly. Among them, Al, as the main metal impurity element was reduced to less than 5ppmw (from 13580ppmw), and Ni (80.78ppmw), Fe (57.60ppmw), Ti (5.79ppmw), etc. decreased to less than 1ppmw. This work improved the purification efficiency of DWSSP, and put forward an optimized recycling method, which is expected to realize the direct reuse of DWSSP in the photovoltaic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with solution-based fabrication processes deserve a simple and controllable fabrication process to produce cost-effective new-generation solar cells. Increasing optoelectrical properties of the light-harvesting perovskite layer during the fabrication process is used to enhance photovoltaic efficiency and the stability of PSCs. Here, ellagic acid was added into the lead iodide precursor to control the reaction of lead iodide with formamidinium iodide to generate a perovskite layer with enlarged grains. The obtained results showed the ellagic acid additive reduced charge recombination losses within solar cells and prompted charge transfer from perovskite to electron transporting layer and hole transporting layer, recording a champion efficiency of 22.04 % along with an open circuit voltage of 1.095 V, short-circuit current density of 24.17 mA cm−2, and fill factor of 78.94 %. In addition, the ellagic acid-based PSCs showed considerable stability improvement against the humidity and light irradiance compared to the control PSCs. It can be concluded that the ellagic acid additive may push the PSCs further to commercialization. • Introduction of ellagic acid (EA) into the lead iodide precursor enhances the optoelectrical properties of the perovskite layer, resulting in a champion efficiency of 22.04 % for Perovskite solar cells (PvKSCs). • EA additive reduces charge recombination losses within PvKSCs and facilitates efficient charge transfer, contributing to improved photovoltaic performance. • EA-based PvKSCs demonstrate substantial stability improvements against humidity and light irradiance, making them a promising candidate for commercialization in the solar cell industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming a cleaner production in course of fighting the ongoing global warming, solar photovoltaic (PV) together with wind and hydro energy, indicate the most important industry segments in the transformation from fossils to renewable energy sources. During the last two decades, the solar PV industry experienced decisive changes of its global business network configurations where Chinese firms comparatively have gained competitive advantages. According to the business network theory, inter-organizational relationships indicate important vehicles for exchanging valuable resources such as advanced technology and privileged market knowledge aiming to gain leading industry positions. Based on a sample of globally leading solar PV manufacturers originated in Canada, China, Germany, South Korea, and the United States of America we conduct a detailed analysis and provide insights into solar PV industry upstream and downstream network dynamics examined for the period 2007–2023. We found that Chinese firms have focused more on upstream industry network relationships compared to their Western counterparts. Thus, we emphasize on the importance of building competitive regional solar PV industry networks instead of relying only on government subsidies which often come along with rather short-term effects. • Inter-organizational relationships along the value chain are of vital importance to gain competitive advantage in the solar photovoltaic industry. • During the last two decades, the solar PV industry experienced decisive changes of its global business network configurations where Chinese firms comparatively have gained competitive advantages. • Chinese inter-organizational business network patterns differ from their competitors originated in the United States of America and Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photovoltaics (PV) and other clean energy technologies are increasingly being deployed as an environmentally responsible and economic approach to energy system decarbonization. The shift from fossil fuel-centric to material-centric equipment has also shifted the consideration and management of environmental and societal impacts across the technology life cycle. Societal desire to reduce raw material needs, mitigate supply chain social and governance challenges, and take advantage of the reuse and recycling capabilities of materials has enhanced interest in regenerative economic models, called circular economies (CEs). A recent critical review documented that solar PV is on a "path towards increased circularity," but the need remains to expand activities beyond recycling to a broader set of environmental and policy activities to fully realize the benefits [1,2]. Thus, the goal of this research roadmap is to facilitate and accelerate the transition to a solar PV CE by 1) highlighting current opportunities for PV value chain stakeholders to adopt circular strategies and 2) assessing research and development (R&D) needs that can be addressed in the short term to advance a CE for the solar industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sol-gel is one of the most economical methods to prepare antireflection films, but the low ultraviolet radiation-resistance (UV-resistance) of the sol-gel film limits its applicability in the solar industry. A SiO 2 antireflection film was prepared with sol-gel method with phenyl salicylate (PS) as the porogen. The effects of the PS addition were investigated on the microstructure, optical property and UV-resistance of the film. When the addition of PS is 1.20 g, the refractive index at 550 nm is 1.30, and the maximum transmittance is 96.30 %. The average transmittance within the 400–1100 nm range reaches its peak at 92.85 %, which is 4.35 percentage points higher than that of the blank glass. In addition, the film without PS has an average transmittance of 91.00 % after 5000 equivalent solar hours (ESHs) UV irradiation, decreasing 1.07 percent point, and has a pencil hardness of 5 H and an adhesion of grade 2 of the tape-tearing method. However, the film with 1.20 g of PS still has an average transmittance of 92.15 % after 5000 ESHs UV irradiation, decreasing only 0.7 percent point, and has a pencil hardness of 7 H and an adhesion of grade 1 of the tape-tearing method. Effect of PS addition amount on the change of SiO 2 film average transmittance with the UV irradiation time. [Display omitted] • SiO 2 film with high transmittance and high UV resistance was prepared with sol-gel. • PS increased the film's average transmittance within 400–1100 nm 4.35 %. • PS let film's average transmittance drop after 5000 ESHs UV irradiation only 0.7 %. • PS made film have 8H hardness and grade 1 adhesion after 5000 ESHs UV irradiation. • PS endowed SiO 2 film with an excellent UV resistance performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power policy implementation represents a pivotal strategy in addressing the challenges posed by global warming and climate change. This research endeavors to assess the effects of such policies on stock returns within the solar PV industry chain spanning the years 2013–2023. Employing contagion tests alongside the network analysis, our study delves into the intricate dynamics of policy impact. Our findings underscore the notably stronger influence exerted by opinion-based policies on policy contagion within industry chain sectors, eclipsing that of notification-based policies. Moreover, policies directed towards downstream sectors demonstrate a more pronounced effect on the mid- and downstream segments, relative to their impact on upstream components. Among the nine policies scrutinized, the 2017 notice pertaining to feed-in tariffs emerges as the most influential, driving and receiving policy shocks within the solar PV network system, while the 2022 notice aimed at coordinating the development of the PV industry supply chain exhibits comparatively weaker pervasive impact. • The key highlights of this paper are as follows: • The impact of Solar PV policies on stock returns in their industry chain sectors. • Opinion-based policies show stronger policy contagion than notification-based policies. • Policies targeting downstream sectors impact mid- and downstream segments more than upstream. • The 2017 notice regarding feed-in tariffs emerges as the most influential policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its significance in regulating the global climate and maintaining biodiversity, the vastness of the Amazon geography imposes challenges for its residents, including limited access to electricity. The Luz para Todos Program proposes to universalize access to the public electricity service in remote regions of the Legal Amazon with renewable energy sources. From this perspective, the work assessed the ability of sector agents to meet the demand for universalization of the Luz para Todos Program, the economic aspects involved in the universalization process, and the waste management and reverse logistics of these systems. The findings indicate a demand for up to 15 million photovoltaic modules, batteries, and inverters with a maximum cost exceeding BRL 38 billion (USD 7.4 billion). Over 33 years, between 58 and 234 thousand tons of electronic waste would be generated. The program should change the panorama of installed photovoltaic capacity in the northern region of the country, thus placing considerable demand upon the solar industry to supply equipment for the installation of thousands of standalone systems across a vast territory, generating waste in places with inadequate infrastructure to manage them in an environmentally sensitive manner. The diversification of renewable energy sources could alleviate the burden on the service chain, curtail the waste generated by photovoltaic equipment, and stimulate the development of a service chain in regions gaining access to electricity services. • Universal access in Legal Amazon will require up to 15 million PV modules, batteries, and inverters. • The LCOE ranges between 477 and 1189 BRL/MWh or 92 to 230 US$/MWh. • No scientific literature addresses waste from renewable sources in remote regions. • 58–234 kton of equipment waste would be generated across a vast territory. • The Legal Amazon has inadequate infrastructure to manage this electronic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A robust transient thermal model for PTC collectors is proposed. • A heuristic optimisation approach is applied to the design of PTC thermal fields. • Single collector optimal dimensions and overall network arrangement are defined. • PTC's versatility is evidenced by investigating its applications across a range of low to high temperatures. This study presents the development of a transient model for designing and optimising parabolic trough solar thermal plants for industrial processes. The model is validated against published experimental data and other models from the literature. A heuristic optimization methodology based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to maximise the Present Value of the Life Cycle Energy Savings (PVLCES) is employed. This methodology is applied to three case studies. The results highlight the versatility of PTC (parabolic trough collector) technology in handling a wide range of temperatures. Additionally, the study reveals the optimal PTC aperture width dimensions that maximise the capture of solar thermal energy while increasing the solar fraction. Specifically: For low-temperature processes, the optimum aperture width is 5.0 m; in medium-temperature processes, the optimum aperture width increases to 5.5 m; for high-temperature applications, the optimal value is 5.8 m. Finally, the optimised networks achieve the following heat load-to-area ratios: Low-temperature applications: 0.57 kW/m²; medium-temperature applications: 0.58 kW/m²; high-temperature applications: 0.6 kW/m². [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molten salts have a variety of applications that span the nuclear and solar industries, and which involve thermal storage and heat transfer. There is a present knowledge gap in the thermophysical properties of molten salts, which limits the readiness level of molten salt applications. This is especially pertinent for molten salt reactors where the fissile material is dissolved within the molten salt. Ab initio molecular dynamics is a common method employed to investigate the structural and thermophysical properties at elevated temperatures. NaCl-PuCl 3 is a candidate fuel salt in molten salt reactors. The scope of this study is to investigate the seven unique compositions and a range of temperatures of NaCl-PuCl 3 and calculate the density, heat capacity, compressibility, enthalpy of mixing, and coefficient of thermal expansion. Within this work, the van der Waals (vdW) interactions are primarily handled with the vdW-DF2 functional but spot-checked with both the dDsC and DFT-D3 methods. The calculated densities are in good agreement with the NaCl and the eutectic compositions, and no experimental values exist for PuCl 3 at these temperatures. The densities are fit to a first-order Redlich-Kister expansion as a function of both composition and temperature. The heat capacity in the literature is scattered but the calculated values agree well with one of the experimental results. The heat capacity increases as a linear function with respect to concentration at a rate of about 7.5 J/mol-K per 10 mol% PuCl 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rapid development of solar energy and photovoltaic industries in China, it is crucial to provide the reliable and accurate solar radiation predictions. In this work, three commonly used machine learning models for predicting global and diffuse solar radiation were assessed in eight Chinese cities, representing different geoclimatic and pollutant conditions. According to the results; regarding the nRMSE, nMAE, nMBE and R values, coastal locations (such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.) obtained higher values than inland locations (such as Lanzhou and Wuhan). Moreover, the SVM (support vector machine) highly outperformed the other models in all locations, regardless of whether the study area was arid, semiarid, semihumid or humid, followed by GLMNET (generalized linear modeling) and RF (random forest). In addition, when assessing the SVM in different locations under different climatic and pollution conditions, it was indicated that the accuracy of solar radiation prediction was closely related to the weather and pollution condition levels. In general, the global solar radiation prediction error was in line with the weather condition levels. The prediction error increased as the weather level increased. However, the relationship between the pollution condition levels and the global solar radiation prediction showed a non-linear relationship. Moreover, for the prediction results of diffuse solar radiation, its variation law with different weather and pollution condition levels was almost different from that of global solar radiation. The maximum high error occurrence probability of global solar radiation and diffuse solar radiation appeared at pollution levels 5 and 1, respectively. Overall, the SVM model demonstrated its reliability in radiation prediction under slight pollution and stable weather conditions. This is crucial in locations with scarce meteorological data and can be used to optimize the selection of geographical locations for photovoltaic power station construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Adaptation of mooring design methodologies from the offshore industry to the floating solar sector. • Definition of design cases for floating offshore islands (small lake, large lake, offshore). • Quasi-static approach can be justified with an appropriate safety factor. • Wind loads are predominant compared to waves and current loads in most applications. Floating solar energy is an industry with great potential. Farms can be installed on lakes, reservoirs or offshore. Numerous projects are under study or have been realised. This study presents three reference cases for floating solar farms, with adapted environmental data: a small lake (2.5 MWp – Mega Watt Peak - island), a large lake (7.5 MWp island) and offshore (2.5 MWp island). Mooring is one of the biggest challenges of floating solar photovoltaics (PV), compared to ground-mounted solar PV. To date, most mooring designs of industrial projects have been performed by computing environmental loads using an analytical analysis. This study aims to present one of the methodologies currently used in industry to perform a mooring design and to highlight the areas where further research is necessary before continuing developing industrial projects. Wind and current loads are computed with drag forces, considering drag coefficients from norms, wind tunnel tests, computational fluid dynamics modelling and the literature. Waves drift loads are computed with the Maruo formula. Results show that wind loads dominate for all cases, except for the offshore conditions, where waves have a significant contribution to the total load (around 50%). Even though the large lake island is 3 times larger than the offshore island, the total load applied on the offshore island is higher. The main challenges in the mooring design for each case are also underlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operation of solar photovoltaic installations for many years may lead to problems such as reduced energy efficiency and aging of components. Under this framework, replacing certain components in the facility to extend the service life of the power plant is viewed, in some cases, as a feasible strategy. However, despite its enormous strategic interest for the solar PV industry, we find that revamping PV installations has been the focus of very few scientific publications, and even less so when it comes to analyzing real facilities. Thus, this paper performs a techno-economic analysis of three revamping strategies at a real PV power plant located in the south-east of Spain. The strategies consist of substituting, in each case, the PV modules, the inverter, and both components. The simulated results show that the highest production value by installed power is obtained when both the modules and the inverter are replaced. In the same vein, the economic analysis reveals this scenario as the most favorable in terms of profitability. Based on the results obtained, an interesting future line of research would be focused on the extension of the analysis at country level to study the joint impact of numerous revamping actions. • Techno-economic analysis of revamping projects of a real solar PV power plant. • Replacing modules and inverter emerges as the most feasible strategy. • Study's applicability extends to other revamping initiatives and geographical regions. • Economic outcomes allow the most cost-effective alternatives to be determined. • This research can contribute to efficient and sustainable energy planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of the ultra-thin silicon oxide (SiO x) on tunnel oxide passivated contact solar cells (TOPCon) are investigated in this paper. The experiment is fabricated to study the TOPCon electrical performance with different SiO x thickness and the champion efficiency is achieved by the TOPCon with a 1.5 nm SiO x layer, with V oc 698.93 mV, J sc 40.14 mA/cm2, FF 81.03 and efficiency 22.73 %. For futher understanding, EDNA2 and AFORS-HET are used to simulate the relationship between the SiO x thickness, rear SRV and the doping concentration in n+ layer. It indicates that the total J 0 at the SiO x -(c-Si) interface (J 0, interface) can be affected by the phosphorus concentration at the SiO x -(c-Si) interface. Besides, due to the variation of SRV or P-doped concentration, different recombination mechanisms, including auger recombination and surface recombination, will dominant the total J 0, interface. In addition, the sensitivity of TOPCon solar cells electrical performance to SiO x thickness can be affected by rear SRV, and the sensitivity of TOPCon solar cells electrical performance to rear SRV can be affected by SiOx thickness. • Bifacial large area (244.32 cm2) N-type TOPcon solar cell is fabricated by experiment. • EDNA2 simulation. • Effects of the ultra-thin silicon oxide (SiO x) on TOPCon solar cell are investigated in detail. • AFORS-HET simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of high-purity silicon (∼99.9999 %) is prevalent in the solar photovoltaic sector, and achieving a reduction in its cost has emerged as a pivotal engineering objective within the silicon solar industry. Recycling silicon from diamond wire saw silicon powder (DWSSP) is a promising solution to fulfill the continuously expanding of high purity silicon demand. Vacuum directional solidification technology using high-frequency electromagnetic induction heating was proposed to purify DWSSP for the first time efficiently. The silicon melt and gas interface reaction, as well as metal impurities' microsegregation in silicon ingot were observed. The effects of vacuum level and electromagnetic force on the separation of silicon and metal impurities were investigated using thermodynamics and electromagnetic mechanics. Results indicate that the content of oxygen in the silicon reduced from 30.91 wt% to 5.08 wt%, and the actual sample composition including for uptake of residual gas contamination steadily declined as the vacuum level increased from 600 Pa to 10 Pa. Vacuum electromagnetic directional solidification reduced the content of metal impurities from 641 ppmw to 29.80 ppmw, increases the proportion of crystalline silicon area, and makes the silicon lattice arrangement more regular. • Repeated directional solidification is more efficient for impurity removal. • The force applied on the metal impurity, magnetic force dominance was proposed first. • Metal impurities were reduced from 641ppmw to 29.80 ppmw. • Increasing the vacuum level helps to eliminate the volatile impurities. • Recycling of silicon cutting waste via a clean metallurgical route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of solar industries, extracting maximum power from solar photovoltaic systems under partial shading conditions has gained significant attention in recent years. One of the most efficient concepts brought out to extract the power output of the existing solar photovoltaic system is the reconfigurable solar photovoltaic system. Numerous static and dynamic reconfiguration techniques are mentioned in the literature. This work proposed a Modified Sudoku reconfiguration based on static techniques and compared to the most common existing configuration i.e., Total-Cross-Tied and Sudoku photovoltaic array configurations. In addition, an Artificial Intelligence-based machine learning model (Fuzzy Expert System) is implemented for the prediction of suitable configurations for solar photovoltaic arrays under partial shading conditions. The performance of the FES model is evaluated by comparing the predicted results and the results obtained from the simulations on 5 × 4, 6 × 4, 6 × 6 and 9 × 9 PV arrays. Results demonstrated that the implemented FES model generated accurate results and 0% MAPE in all 33 sample cases for predicting the best suitable configuration. This realistic, simple, and cost-effective fuzzy model can be utilized to replace existing estimation systems that employ the use of complex technological analysis and simulation models. Thus, this approach can be very effectively used in the solar industry for selecting the configuration for installing solar panels. • An efficient reconfiguration technique for extracting maximum power. • Cost-effective with simple circuitry. • AI based Fuzzy Expert System for configuration prediction. • Fast learning, simple to implement, and user friendly. • Useful for small and large solar farms under variable shading conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Future work for managing potential environmental and human health risks of perovskite photovoltaic modules. • Future solutions for mitigating potential environmental and human health risks of perovskite photovoltaic modules. • Identification of relevant U.S. regulations, permits, and standards of potential environmental and human health risks of perovskite photovoltaic modules. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are emerging photovoltaic (PV) technologies capable of matching power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of current PV technologies in the market at lower manufacturing costs, making perovskite solar modules (PSMs) cost competitive if manufactured at scale and perform with minimal degradation. PSCs with the highest PCEs, to date, are lead halide perovskites. Lead presents potential environmental and human health risks if PSMs are to be commercialized, as the lead in PSMs are more soluble in water compared to other PV technologies. Therefore, prior to commercialization of PSMs, it is important to highlight, identify, and establish the potential environmental and human health risks of PSMs as well as develop methods for assessing the potential risks. Here, we identify and discuss a variety of international standards, U.S. regulations, and permits applicable to PSM deployment that relate to the potential environmental and human health risks associated with PSMs. The potential risks for lead and other hazardous material exposures to humans and the environment are outlined which include water quality, air quality, human health, wildlife, land use, and soil contamination, followed by examples of how developers of other PV technologies have navigated human health and environmental risks previously. Potential experimentation, methodology, and research efforts are proposed to elucidate and characterize potential lead leaching risks and concerns pertaining to fires, in-field module damage, and sampling and leach testing of PSMs at end of life. Lastly, lower technology readiness level solutions to mitigate lead leaching, currently being explored for PSMs, are discussed. PSMs have the potential to become a cost competitive PV technology for the solar industry and taking steps toward understanding, identifying, and creating solutions to mitigate potential environmental and human health risks will aid in improving their commercial viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Silicon crystal growth is crucial to the solar photovoltaic industry. • High capacity and big-size recharge Czochralski solar silicon has become dominant since the emergence of diamond wire sawing. • High-performance multi-crystalline silicon lost its edge due to harder diamond wire sawing. • Mono-like silicon is still under development. The past two decades have been a transformative era for solar silicon crystal growth, especially in the competition between multi-crystalline silicon (Multi-Si) and mono-crystalline silicon (Mono-Si). As a critical sector of the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, the demand for this crucial material has surged exponentially, expanding over a thousand-fold. This remarkable increase has led to an accumulative deployment of silicon solar panels, which now approach a striking terawatt (TW), capturing over 95 % of the global PV market share. Furthermore, the rapid advancements in crystal growth technology during this period have set an unprecedented historical benchmark. This paper reviewed our early effort in the hot-zone design of Czochralski (CZ) solar silicon and then discussed its recent advancements. In between, the small-grain high-performance multi-crystalline silicon (HPM-Si), which we proposed, and the mono-like silicon (ML-Si) were briefly introduced. Because of the much better ingot quality and growth yield, HPM-Si became the mainstream until 2018. Its market share peaked at more than 70 % in 2017 but slid down quickly and was replaced by CZ silicon due to the emergence of diamond wire sawing (DWS); the CZ silicon was easier to cut, and its kerf loss was much less. Since then, the CZ ingot size has also started to increase quickly. The wafer size increased from 156 mm × 156 mm (M0) to 217 mm × 217 mm (M12+) in a few recent years; the increase in wafer area was almost doubled. Nowadays, the market share of CZ mono-Si is over 80 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Solar energy can be utilized in many industrial processes. • TES methods offer flexible solutions that render solar energy systems sustainable. • Integrating TES into industrial processes shall produce significant savings. • Using cost-effective and sustainable TES systems in SHIP is essential. Industry is one of the leading energy consumers with a global share of 37%. Fossil fuels are used to meet more then 80% of this demand. The sun's heat can be exploited in most industrial processes to replace fossil fuels. Integration of a thermal energy storage system is a requisite for sustainability in solar heat for industries. Currently there are only 741 solar heat industrial plants operating with an overall collector area of 662,648 m2 (567 MW th) that cover very small share of total global capacity. This is only the tip of the iceberg- there is a huge potential that is eager to be exploited. The challenges of increasing cost-effective solar heat applications are development of thermal energy storage systems and materials that can deliver this energy at feasible economic value. Sensible thermal energy storage, which is the oldest and most developed, has recently gained interest due to demand for increased sustainability in energy use. This paper attempts to review these latest trends in sensible thermal energy storage systems and materials that are used in solar industrial applications with a special focus on sustainability. The aim is to provide information for further research and development that shall make solar heat a cost-effective method to meet the increasing energy demand of the industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solar cavity receiver filled with a porous layer now is popularly found in solar energy industry. As its thermal performance will influence the efficiency of solar energy utilization systems considerably, deep understanding on it is urgent for the development of solar energy industry. In the present work, the influences of thickness, effective thermal conductivity and permeability of a porous layer on thermal performance of a porous solar cavity receiver are investigated comprehensively for the first time. The analysis is carried out not only from the viewpoint of the first law of thermodynamics but also from the second law of thermodynamics. Three new findings are obtained: (1) a critical value of thickness of the porous layer, (2) a critical value of effective thermal conductivity of the porous layer and (3) a critical value of permeability of the porous layer, across which the thermal performance of the solar receiver will alter significantly. In addition, some comparison is conducted between the observations in this research and those in previous publications to check the effects of the configuration and flow driven mechanism of a porous solar cavity receiver on its thermal performance for the first time. • Some critical effects are investigated. • Three critical values are observed. • Comparison with available literature is conducted. • Useful guides for practical design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tellurium has a wide variety of applications, most importantly in the solar energy industry and is eco-toxicologically significant; however, the magmatic-hydrothermal processes causing the pronounced Te enrichment together with Au in some epithermal districts are still poorly constrained. Hydrothermal and alkaline magmatic activity in post-subduction environments are suggested to be a critical component in the evolution of this Te-rich sub-class of low-sulfidation epithermal deposits. Cripple Creek represents an example for a world-class low-sulfidation epithermal Au-Te anomaly in the continental crust. This area represents a natural laboratory to investigate the processes of ore-formation and Au-Te enrichment in alkaline igneous rock-hosted epithermal systems. Here, we present the first micro-analytical approach that combines petrographic observations with in situ LA-ICP-MS analyses and trace element mapping to define the key ore-forming processes of Au and Te in the Cripple Creek epithermal complex. Two main styles of mineralization can be distinguished: (1) low-grade Au disseminated pyrite-rich ores in the permeable brecciated host rocks and (2) high-grade quartz-fluorite veins rich in calaverite (AuTe 2), coloradoite (HgTe), petzite (Ag 3 AuTe 2), altaite (PbTe) and native Au. Pyrite trace element mapping revealed distinct variations and decoupling of elements (Au-Te) and element pairs (Au-As vs. Co-Ni) within and between different sites in the epithermal district. This is reflected by the concentric/growth zoning of these elements in pyrite that were interpreted to be caused by fluid boiling associated with the deposition of the low-grade disseminated host rock ores at temperatures between 220 and 350 °C leading to the precipitation of Au, As, Co and Ni from the liquid phase and the preferential partitioning of Te into the vapor phase. The subsequent condensation of the Te-rich vapors in metal-bearing meteoric waters led to the Te precipitation being decoupled from Au in the low-grade ores. The high-grade Au-Te mineralization was likely initiated by the influx of magmatically derived oxidized fluids. Subsequently, fluid temperatures dropped due to mixing with meteoric waters resulting in fluid boiling under low pressure conditions at shallower crustal levels (<1000 m) compared to the low-grade ores. Elevated f O 2 minimized the loss of Te to the vapor phase and the strong boiling conditions at lower fluid temperatures (105–200 °C) caused the contemporaneous precipitation of Au and Te in the high-grade veins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We forecast irradiance with satellite imagery and cloud motion extrapolation. • Forecasts based on geostationary satellite imagery work well in the high latitudes. • We comparatively validated clear sky models and irradiance estimates in Finland. • Forecast performs well compared to smart persistence in changing cloud situations. Global horizontal irradiance (GHI) estimates and forecasts are necessary for the efficient use of a naturally fluctuating energy source like solar energy. However, few forecasting methods exist for high latitudes. In this study we present the development and validation of a satellite-based GHI forecast for southern Finland, called Solis-Heliosat. The forecast is formed by combining information from the clear sky (CS) model Pvlib Solis with consecutive geostationary weather satellite imagery, using the Heliosat method. Forecasts are produced up to 4 h with a 15-min temporal resolution. The CS model, the satellite-based all-sky estimate, and the GHI forecast have been compared and validated against other methods and in situ GHI measurements. An additional comparison was made for two datasets representing a changing cloud environment. The CS model estimates had an average rMBE (relative Mean Bias Error) of −6% to 1% and a rRMSE (relative Root Mean Square Error) of 6–10%. For the all-sky estimates the rMBE was −4% to −2%, and rRMSE 2–33%. With increasing forecast time the Solis-Heliosat rMBE descends to −9% and rRMSE reaches 50% at 4 h. Solis-Heliosat performs better than the persistence forecasts in most cases, particularly in a changing cloud environment. Our study indicates the use of satellite-based forecasts as a viable tool for forecasting GHI for the solar energy industry also in the high latitudes. In high latitudes geostationary satellite-based methods are at their limit; however, the information they can provide will enable efficient solar energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heat-related occupational health and safety. • Level of heat stress experienced by a solar worker. • The percentage of work capacity is established for different scenarios. • The definition of work/rest schedules and recommendations. • The period of risk alert during a recorded heat wave. Due to production requirements, solar facilities are usually located in sunny environments where workers face hot weather. Heat is seen as an environmental and occupational hazard with its physiological effects due to high-temperature exposures. Among the heat-related effects are, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death. The heat-related impairments on health could also negatively impact the performance of the workers and simultaneously, decrease their productivity. While climate change the already known effects on health could become more frequent, prevalent, and spread. The present investigation provides an analysis of the level of heat stress experienced by a worker based on Wet-bulb Globe Temperature measurements. The study was conducted at a solar energy facility in Mexico. The results show that sometimes workers develop their tasks under conditions above the alert limits of exposure. Solar workers without acclimatization and heavy workload requirements (400 kcal/h) need to rest 75% from an hour and 50% when the workload is moderate (300 kcal/h). Consequently, the percentage of work capacity was established for different scenarios. The period of risk alert during a recorded heat wave, where the worker would mainly require to stop all the physical activities, started at 6:30 am and ended at 6:50 pm. In the final section, preventive measures are suggested. This research aims to contribute with information directed to environmental scientists, standard/policy developers and the solar industry that could improve/develop safety procedures directed toward the heat-related occupational health and safety within solar energy applications under the climate change conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of carbon neutrality, the solar PV will usher in a rapid development stage. The international co-opetition for solar PV critical mineral resources is getting unprecedentedly intense especially among the world's major powers. Based on the niche theory and a panel dataset of chromium, gallium, copper and platinum in 2008–2020, this research has created an evaluation system for the ecological co-opetition in solar PV critical mineral resources, then analyzed the dynamic evolution trends of China, United States, Japan and European Union using eco-niche models. The results demonstrate that: (1) Distinct differences exist in the overall competitive advantages for solar PV critical minerals between these four countries. The competitive advantage rankings from strong to weak are USA, China, Japan and the EU; However, the EU possesses most available critical mineral resources, followed by the USA and Japan, whereas China has the least, revealing a complex competition pattern among the four major powers; (2) The competition for solar PV critical mineral resources between these nations has intensified since 2017. The competition between the United States and Japan is the most intense; in terms of the competition China is faced with, the United States is the most competitive, followed by Japan and the EU; and (3) The technological innovation in solar PV critical minerals has a significant impact on the ecological niche of these countries with a great heterogeneity. Finally, this research puts forward corresponding policy recommendations. [Display omitted] • Investigated co-opetition relationships for solar PV critical mineral resources. • Constructed an evaluation index system for the ecological co-opetition relationships. • Built a tech-innovation index, and verified its impact on the ecological niche. • Competition between the four major powers has intensified since 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molten salts have many applications ranging from a heat transfer medium in both generation IV nuclear reactor designs and the solar industry to thermal storage systems. While molten salts show promising properties for these applications, there still exists a knowledge gap for the transport properties of molten salts at elevated temperatures. This work uses ab initio Molecular Dynamics to investigate the transport properties of KCl, LiCl, KCl-LiCl eutectic, NaCl, MgCl 2 , and NaCl-MgCl 2 eutectic molten salt systems. The properties presented here are the diffusion coefficient, viscosity, and isochoric heat capacity. These properties are compared to experimental data where available and other computational work in cases where no experimental data is available. This is the first work to explore timescales over 100 ps via AIMD for the determination of transport properties in molten salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sale of off-grid solar products in Zambia has grown rapidly over the past decade, with around 1 million small-scale solar products sold between 2018 and 2022. However, these products, which are promoted as a means for energy-poor populations to access basic energy services, tend to have short working lives. This poses significant ethical and infrastructural challenges in terms of solar e-waste that the off-grid solar industry and nation states are grappling with. In this paper, we develop a political ecology framework that mobilises a multi-scalar analysis of off-grid solar repair. We examine empirical findings from Zambia to illustrate how the political economy dynamics of the off-grid solar industry, the materiality of the off-grid solar objects it produces, and local geographies of repair, interact and shape repair praxis in Zambia and comparable contexts. Our findings focus on the commodification of off-grid solar products and the attendant tensions between profit and sustainability imperatives that a market orientation invites; reflected in repair restrictive designs and closed-product ecosystems. Our findings go on to punctuate a paradox whereby, despite the ingenuity and persistence of local actors, off-grid solar products are often more difficult to repair in the rural Global South contexts they are designed for and marketed to. We conclude by drawing links to the legislative focus of the right to the repair movement in the Global North, highlighting the rich range of political, social, and economic factors that impede the repairability of these increasingly vital objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The aim of this article is to develop a new CMS to detect dust in PV panels. • The CMS is embedded in an unmanned aerial vehicle. • The CMS employs a radiometric sensor, and the results are validated by thermography. • The approach is based on the emissivity that is produced by the surface. • Several scenarios were conducted using real solar PV panels. Abstract The photovoltaic solar energy industry is expanding, and there is therefore a need to increase and improve its maintainability, operating costs, availability, reliability, safety, life cycle, etc. The aim of this article is to design, develop and check a new condition monitoring system to detect dust in solar photovoltaic panels. The condition monitoring system uses a radiometric sensor connected to an Arduino platform. This novel approach is based on emissivity analysis produced over a surface and characterized with a low emissivity value when dust appears. A thermographic camera is also employed to validate the results provided by the radiometric sensor. The system is designed to be embedded in an unmanned aerial vehicle. Radiometric data is sent and analysed, Internet of Things is employed, and thermograms are stored for further processing. Several scenarios with a real solar panel are used in the experiments, in which the angles and distances of the sensors and surface conditions are studied. An analysis of the radiometric sensor provides accuracy results, and the presence of dust is identified in all scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorption thermal energy storage is an effective technology for low-grade heat recovery and it could solve the problem of mismatching between thermal energy demand and supply. However, the conventional single-stage cycle couldn't adapt well to the unstable heat source with variable temperature from solar energy or industry. To overcome this problem, two-stage cascading desorption cycles are proposed and compared with conventional single-stage sorption cycle. Under the condition of small temperature variation of heat source, which is divided into 5 stages between 68.2 °C and 152.8 °C, results show that various working pairs for two-stage cascading desorption cycles adapted to the heat source better than that for single-stage cycle, considering the effect of hysteresis. Under large temperature variation of heat source conditions such as larger than 50 °C, the concept of modularization thermal cell is proposed and the guideline for optimal combination between various halides and cycles is summarized. Considering both thermal energy density and grade, the combined two-stage cascading desorption cycle with three halides of optimal filled mass proportion is recommended, with system energy storage density of 879 kJ/kg and the product of temperature increment and thermal energy storage density of 81.1 MJ K/kg. • Novel two-stage sorption cycles for thermal energy storage are proposed. • Single two-stage cycle could decrease the desorption temperature by 54 °C at most. • Combined two-stage cycle could adapt desorption temperature more flexibly. • A modularization thermal cell adapt to unstable heat source is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper uses site suitability analysis to identify locations for solar farms in the UK to help meet climate change targets. A set of maps, each representing a given suitability criterion, is created with geographical information systems (GIS) software. These are combined to give a Boolean map of areas which are appropriate for large-scale solar farm installation. Several scenarios are investigated by varying the criteria, which include geographical (land use) factors, solar energy resource and electrical distribution network constraints. Some are dictated by the physical and technical requirements of large-scale solar construction, and some by government or distribution network operator (DNO) policy. It is found that any suitability map which does not heed planning permission and grid constraints will overstate potential solar farm area by up to 97%. This research finds sufficient suitable land to meet Future Energy Scenarios (UK National Grid outlines for the coming energy landscape). Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Presents GIS site suitability analysis for solar farms in a high latitude area - UK. • Criteria include electricity network connection constraints and government policy. • Without these, potential land for utility-scale PV is overestimated by up to 97%. • Government plans for future large-scale solar are achievable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The use of CO 2 mixtures as working fluid in power cycles is studied. • The addition of TiCl 4 or N 2 O 4 to CO 2 increases the fluid critical temperature. • CO 2 mixtures have higher efficiency and lower costs than pure CO 2. • Optical, thermal and power cycle performances are evaluated with dedicated tools. • The adoption of CO 2 mixtures can reduce the LCOE by 10%; Abstract This paper discusses the adoption of CO 2 mixtures for improving the thermal-to-power efficiency conversion in solar tower plants and reducing the Levelized Cost of Electricity. Two different fluids are considered for blending the CO 2 : N 2 O 4 and TiCl 4. The main advantage of the innovative mixtures relies in a higher critical temperature with respect to pure CO 2 , which allows condensing cycles even at relatively high ambient temperatures typical of solar plants locations. Thermodynamic results show that the innovative cycles can achieve conversion efficiencies as high as 43% and 50% at 550 °C and 700 °C maximum temperature respectively, outperforming the reference CO 2 cycle by 2 points percent. In addition, the simpler lay-out and the liquid compression reduce the power block capital costs below 700 $/kW. Detailed solar plant annual simulation is performed to assess the overall solar to electricity efficiency which can be around 21% for the innovative fluid, corresponding to 10% increase with respect to state-of-the-art solar plant. The higher performance and lower costs lead to a Levelized Cost of Electricity reduction of 10% with respect to conventional steam cycle power block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new coupled optical, thermal and electrical model is presented in this study and applied to a concentrating photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system for predicting the system performance under various operational conditions. Firstly, a three-point-based electrical model and a method for extracting its five model parameters are developed by using the currents and voltages at the short-, open-circuit and maximum power points provided in usual PV module/panel datasheets. Then, the model and method are validated with the existing six flat-plate PV modules and subsequently are used to predict the hourly electrical performance of the CPV/T roof-top system designed by us under outdoor conditions on four clear days by integrating with a scaling law developed by us. Additionally, transient effect and water temperature on the storage tank are examined. It turned out that the CPV system could operate for 6 h a day with a peak instant electrical power of 50W/m2 and could generate 0.22kWh/m2 electricity a day in May–July. The error in hourly electrical energy gained between the predictions and observations is in a range of (3.64–8.95)% with the mean of 5.53% in four days, and the estimated water temperature in the storage tank agrees with the monitored one in range of 0.2–1 °C. The proposed methods as well as the electrical models could potentially be applied widely across the solar energy field for the management and operation of the electrical energy production from any CPV/T roof-top system. Highlights • Three-point-based electrical model developed. • Predicted performance of a new CPV/T roof-top system under outdoor conditions. • Model is robust enough for the management and operation of CPV/T roof-top systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The present work proposes a new solar power station surveillance approach based on the photovoltaic module failures diagnosis using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference approach. Indeed, the main aim of this proposed approach is to ensure and increased energy efficiency and improved reliability of the studied solar power station. This approach is used to generate faults indicators, to detect, locate and isolate the faults based on modeling of the main characteristic variables based on an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference, where the main aim is the prediction of the expected studied system behavior based on the actual collected measurements of the studied system. Where, the investigation field of this work is implanted on an area of 60 ha it contains 120120 solar panels with an efficiency of 15–20% with a total power of 30 MW connected to the electrical network of 30 KV. The obtained results confirm the validity of the proposed approach in improving the reliability and the overall efficiency of the studied power system. It was proved experimentally that after a sandstorm, the normal operating mode thresholds were exceeded and absolute overshoots of 35.5, 5.6 and 1.3 were registered for the output power, the output voltage and the output current respectively. These registrations have permitted to identify the failures and to set up a decision for the cleaning of the photovoltaic module. Indeed, It has been proved in this work that the operation state mode can be maintained based on failure detection and its maintenance which can be achieved in time thanks to the proposed approach. Graphical abstract Photovoltaic system diagnostic based on ANFIS model. Image 1 Highlights • Failures diagnosis in solar power components for efficient sustainable energy. • Monitoring strategy based on failure diagnosis for solar power station is proposed. • The ANFIS approach is used for failure diagnosis in the studied solar power system. • The obtained ANFIS models of the solar system are validated using real data. • Comparison between real and reference behavior in different operating mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential-induced degradation of the shunting type (PID-s) is a well-known problem for photovoltaic modules. However, standard PID testing at the cell or module level takes 96 h due to the time it takes for the Na ions to diffuse from the glass to the solar cell through the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant. This is too slow to monitor production quality in the fast-paced solar cell industry. Moreover, it results in the encapsulation of solar cells, significantly restricting characterization options after PID testing. In this work, we replace the EVA in the PID testing setup with a salt-enriched hybrid polymer, which provides the solar cell with direct access to sodium (Na) ions while at the same time avoiding encapsulation during the testing process. Solar cells that underwent PID-s testing with the salt-enriched hybrid polymer showed a maximum degradation after only 12 min, over two orders of magnitude faster than standard PID-s testing using EVA, which took 4,300 min (∼72 h) to reach maximum degradation. Hence, PID-s testing using the salt-enriched hybrid is significantly faster than conventional techniques and avoids encapsulation, thus allowing for more detailed post-PID cell analysis. This new test shows that some solar cells can recover from PID-s, which was corroborated by extending the standard test to 300 h. This important novel insight shines a new light on the PID-s mechanism and the impact of this failure mode in field operation. • Potential-induced degradation (PID) in photovoltaic modules is a well-known problem. • Standard PID testing takes 96 h, which is too slow for the solar cell industry. • This work introduced a salt-enriched hybrid polymer for faster PID testing. • This new method need only 12 min compared to 96 h of standard PID testing. • This method results in no encapsulation, enabling post-PID cell analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced data exchange among different actors and stages of the value chain (VC) is key to mastering the transition toward a circular solar industry. Data on in-use products and assets enable early assessments of the adequate circular strategy at the end of the first life cycle, which includes the reuse of photovoltaic (PV) modules in a second life cycle. In this context, digital platforms represent a proven technology to facilitate information exchange between different actors along the VC. However, digital platforms that are targeted specifically at fostering the circular economy (CE) the solar industry are under-researched. We apply Design Science Research to build and evaluate an artefact for a digital platform that enables collecting comprehensive PV data at different life cycle stages by involving different solar value chain stakeholders. Data enrichment is incentivized by two platform use cases that represent the outcome of our study: (i) an assessment schema (devised in collaboration with a third-party certifier) designed to gather information relevant to creating a digital product passport; and (ii) a photovoltaic reuse online marketplace designed to match the supply and demand for second life panels (supported by a standardized testing and repurposing infrastructure). Initial insights from Switzerland (our pilot area) pave the way for implementing the proposed concept. Future studies should investigate scalability to the European context. [Display omitted] • Discussing existing circular economy (CE) platforms underpins the relevance of our study. • Digital platforms that foster the CE in the solar industry are under-researched. • We use Design Science Research to propose a digital platform artefact. • Two use cases incentivize data exchange between value chain (VC) actors. • Our artefact is based on a relational database that collects data throughout the PV VC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of the semiconductor and solar industry has been exponential in the last two decades due to the computing and energy demands of the world. Silicon (Si) is one of the main constituents for both sectors and, thus, is used in large quantities. As a result, a lot of Si waste is generated mainly by these two industries. For a sustainable world, the circular economy is the key; thus, the waste produced must be upcycled/recycled/reused to complete the circular chain. Herein, we show that an upcycled/recycled Si can be used with carbon as a composite anode material, with high Si content (∼40 wt%) and loading of 3–4 mAh/cm2 for practical use in lithium-ion batteries. The unique spherical jackfruit-like structure of the Si–C composite can minimize the total lithium inventory loss compared to the conventional Si–C composite and pure Si, resulting in superior electrochemical performance. The superior electrochemical performance of Si–C composites enables the cell energy density of ∼325 Wh kg−1 (with NMC cathode) and ∼260 Wh kg−1(with LFP cathode), respectively. The results demonstrate that Si-based industrial waste can be upcycled for high-performance Li-ion battery anodes through a controllable, scalable, and energy-efficient route. • Spherical jackfruit structure reduces anode surface area exposed to electrolyte. • Scalable method to recycle Silicon scrap to produce a high-performance anode. • Pre-lithiation strategy to improve first-cycle losses for practical applications. • Novel Titration Gas Chromatography (TGC) used to differentiate trapped Li and SEI. • EIS was used to study impedance growth and Cryo-FIB-SEM to study void formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Wireless sensor network to control and monitor photovoltaic installations under partial shading conditions in real-time. • The IEEE 802.15.4 technology provides the appropriate data transmission with low latency to guarantee the control stability. • The artificial vision is able to ensure the stability of the system reaching the MPP even under partial shading conditions. • The experimental tests prove that the system operates with high efficiency (higher than 99%) under all circumstances. The solar photovoltaic industry is booming and the achievement of high efficiency in this kind of systems is crucial. Partial shading conditions complicate the search of the maximum power point (MPP) of the installations due to the existence of multiple peaks in the P-V curve. In addition, these photovoltaic (PV) systems require monitoring and control in real-time to guarantee the correct operation. Thus, this paper proposes a novel system to track the maximum power point through artificial vision, under partial shading conditions controlled and monitored by a wireless sensor network based on IEEE 802.15.4 technology. The infrastructure consists of a wireless distributed photovoltaic system (WDPS) where the power converter is connected to a sensor node that sends the information to the coordinator node. The coordinator node is connected to a webcam and a Raspberry Pi. This part of the system is called wireless webcam centralized control (WWCC) and is responsible for processing the sensors information and the images. Besides, the WWCC sends the control signal. The wireless communication is set in beacon-enabled mode allowing synchronization between the sensor nodes and the coordinator node. Moreover, the guaranteed time slot mechanism provides the correct transmission of data with low latency, ensuring the stability of the controller. Experimental tests have been carried out to validate the artificial vision wireless PV system. The results prove an appropriate operation, achieving an MPP tracking higher than 99%, even in partial shading conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two tubular receivers with Raschig Rings porous inserts are tested at a solar Furnace. • Effects of coating, porous length, airflow rate, solar flux on thermal performance are analyzed. • The porous inserts improve the energy efficiency by 30–50%. • The porous inserts enhance the exergy efficiency by 61–73%. An experimental study was carried out to assess the performance of a tubular absorber enhanced with Raschig Rings (RR) porous medium for CSP applications. Two alternative designs with different porous lengths of 20 and 40 mm were fabricated and compared with two conventional tube designs with and without surface coating. Several tests were conducted at the solar furnace SF60 of the Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA) within the international access program of the SFERA III project, financed by the EU. The main scope of the study was to provide comprehensive detail on the hydraulic and thermal characteristics of the modified tube for further optimization and deployment in point-focusing solar systems. Therefore, evaluations were directed to determine the effects of each design on the pressure losses and the tube wall temperature, as well as on the useful heat gain. Results indicated that although the porous inserts rise the pressure losses through the fluid flow, the higher wetted area in the porous zone for heat transfer between the air and the heated plate reduces the wall temperature significantly. Moreover, applying the PYROMARK 2500 as the surface coating has a high influence on increasing solar absorption and reducing thermal losses. Further investigations revealed that the integration of the porous medium changes the temperature profile formed all over the tube, transforming a Gaussian shape in the plain pipes to a spline shape with two peaks in the modified tubes. Increasing the energy and exergy efficiencies of the solar absorber up to 30–50% and 60–70%, respectively, demonstrated the improving effects of the proposed porous material for future applications in the solar industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar field orientation and inclination are variables that significantly influence the optical performance over the year of Linear Fresnel Collector (LFC). The usual field configuration is a flat north-south (NS) orientation, however, the future development of the LFC sector, for example for solar heat for industry, could more often impose the land choice and therefore the solar field configuration. To study the influence of such configuration on a solar field optical performance, a ray-tracing model was used to evaluate the LFC optical performance for each solar position and a consistent methodology was developed to evaluate the solar position in the module reference system. This method allows studying the optical performance of any LFC array configuration. The paper first looks separately at the influence of orientation and tilt imposed by the topography of the eLLO project, then focuses on the eLLO solar power plant case study. The results of eLLO's solar line simulation showed an increase of 1.6% in annual absorbed energy compared to NS implementation, which is the best orientation for the localization. In conclusion, the design and implementation of modular LFC array can be adapted to a wide range of terrains and can even take advantage of this constraint. • Solar field orientation and modules inclination can be impacted by local topography. • Optical performance of a linear Fresnel concentrator is determined. • The influence of solar field orientation and tilt are studied. • The eLLO's solar line has a configuration and orientation adapted to the topography. • Annual performances of eLLO's solar line are close to the reference NS configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the demand for critical minerals required for solar photovoltaics (PV) technology continues to expand, there has been an increasing concern about supply risks of critical minerals, especially for large solar PV equipment manufacturers. Although supply risk has become a prominent issue, few studies were conducted on the supply risks of critical minerals from the perspective of multi-nations and the internal correlation between supply risks and economic variables. To this end, this study conducted a comparative analysis of the supply risks of chromium and gallium between China, the United States (US) and India from 2008 to 2020 and analyzed the impact of supply risks on the competitive advantage of solar PV industry by econometric models. The results indicate that: (1) For chromium, the fluctuation trends of their supply risks in China and the US are similarly stable (high risk), which are mainly affected by resource security risk and geopolitical risk, while India's supply risk fluctuates greatly with a relatively low supply risk. (2) For gallium, the supply risk of China is lower than that of the US and India, and there are obvious differences in supply risks in the three countries. (3) Resource security risk and geopolitical risk of chromium and resource security risk of gallium all have significant negative impacts on the industrial competitive advantage, and this impact varies greatly among countries. • Built an evaluation index combined with three risk metrics and nine indicators. • China, the US and India face different risks for chromium and gallium. • Assessed the impact of different supply risks on industrial competitive advantage. • Stuck neck minerals have greater impacts on the industrial competitive advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar profile and component outage create considerable impact on solar generation. This paper proposes a Markov chain model that incorporates both factors into solar generation. This model considers the solar farm as a generating unit with multiple generation states, where each state is characterized by generating photovoltaic arrays, ambient temperature, and solar radiation. The probability, frequency, and transition rate between generation states are obtained from collected solar profile samples and component reliability parameters. Three generation performance indices that describe the solar generation from the perspective of energy, time, and frequency are defined and estimated from the proposed model. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed model is verified by a sequential Monte Carlo simulation approach using collected solar profile samples from six distinctive sites in North Dakota, USA. Influence of component reliability parameters, seasonal solar profile pattern, and photovoltaic module type on solar generation is investigated in details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical and thermal analysis of the most well-known solar concentrator system; parabolic trough collector (PTC) are investigated and analyzed. To evaluate performance of the PTC, four cities of Iran with different weather conditions are chosen as case studies. Effective parameters such as concentration ratio, incident angle correction factor, collector mass flow rate are considered. The main objective of this work is evaluation of the solar energy potential using PTC in under consideration cities with different climates. Numerical modeling of the analysis is done using MATLAB software. Simulation results shows that Shiraz, with an average annual thermal efficiency of 13.91% and annual useful energy of 2213 kWh/m 2 , is the best region to use solar concentrator systems. The impacts of other parameters such as fluid inlet temperature, input fluid flow rate and aperture area of the collector on the output of the system are also investigated. Finally, the effect of using nanofluids as heat transfer fluid on increasing the heat transfer is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To integrate Solar Thermal Electric (STE) Plants energy production into the electric power supply system of a country, it's necessary to solve some uncertainties about availability of solar resource. One of these is the accurate knowledge of solar radiation reaching solar receiver. Solar radiation is attenuated by aerosols and molecules present in the Atmosphere. Estimation of this phenomenon is complicated due to environmental factors on which it depends. Currently there are some methodologies in literature to estimate it (parametric models, simulations tools, radiative transfer codes (RTC) or visibility instrumentation). A new approach to estimate the extinction in STE Plants has been elaborated. Developed model uses atmospheric realistic conditions present in a real location. With this purpose, a Typical Aerosols Year (TAY) has been elaborated using NREL Methodology for Typical Meteorological Years. TAY has been created processing aerosol data provided by an AERONET station located at PSA. Using TAY has been obtained the typical spectral transmittances levels at PSA, with RTC. Attenuation model results from transmittances levels, has been used to acquire production and economic losses due to extinction in a simulated STE Commercial Plant at PSA. Results have been compared with others in the literature for the same emplacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar power tower plants differ from conventional power plants in the steam generator design due to the higher heat duty. In this work, the influence of the steam generator heat exchangers (preheater, evaporator, superheater and reheater) on a solar power plant with molten salt receiver and thermal storage is studied for the first time. Energy, exergy and exergoeconomic analyses give a complete view of the cost flows within the system. The pinch point temperature difference in the evaporator is used as the main variable as it changes the steam generator design and the operating conditions of the plant, such as the inlet temperature of the receiver and the salt mass flow. All heat exchangers are designed and optimized at minimum cost for each pinch point to fulfill the thermomechanical limitations of TEMA standards and Pressure Vessel code. The field of heliostats, molten-salt receiver and the power-block (110 MWe) designs are kept constant throughout the paper. A low pinch point should be used to minimize the plant exergy destruction while the exergoeconomic approach obtains an optimum pinch point around 2-3 °C. Furthermore, the low exergoeconomic factor values show that the heat exchangers of the SG are crucial for the plant operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyses the impacts of substantial changes in energy production driven by self-supply through Photovoltaic (PV) adoption. Three different regulatory design options are analysed with a model developed to estimate the evolution of self-supply deployment as a function of price by: (i) starting with the actual tariff structure and parameters; (ii) introducing a new network usage component for rate-payer energy suppliers, and (iii) evolving towards higher allowed revenues recovered through fixed charges under the tariff. The results of the analysis suggest that gradual transitions toward higher fixed Network Access charges do not dissuade PV deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to identify the most relevant drivers and barriers for the deployment of concentrated solar power (CSP) in the EU in a 2030 horizon, based on a thorough literature review and interviews with key stakeholders in the sector. The results of our interviews show that the higher “value” of CSP compared to other renewable energy sources (RES) is regarded as the most relevant driver, followed by the policy drivers (innovation and deployment support) and the significant cost reductions expected for the technology. The most relevant barrier is the high cost of the technology in comparison with conventional power plants and other renewable energy technologies, closely followed by uncertain and retroactive policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the use of domestic and industrial solar energy is commonly divided into two parts: Photovoltaic and solar thermal utilization, but due to the high cost and long recovery cycle, are limited in their respective development in this field. As a high-efficiency solar energy utilization technology, photovoltaic/thermal attracts more and more attention. In this paper, a novel low concentration photovoltaic/thermal (LCPV/T) system with micro-channel heat pipe array was proposed. The environmental parameters and the inlet and the outlet temperature and output power were tested in this study. The efficiency of the system was up to 12.68% while at the same time thermal, electric and heat efficiency reached a value of 54.48%, 14.49% and 2.1% respectively, at the inlet temperature of 31 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An induction furnace is an electric furnace in which ferrous metal scrap and fluxes (e.g. silica, limestone) are melted using an electromagnetic field to produce steel or cast iron. This metallurgical process is accompanied by the generation of large amounts of wastes called slags, which are composed mainly of a non-metallic part as well as a small metallic part. At the end of the melting process the slags layer is removed from the furnace top, then it is air-cooled and stored prior to discharge. While blast furnace slags ( BFS ), electric arc furnace slags ( EAFS ), and ladle furnace slags ( LFS ) were characterized in earlier works for thermal energy storage up to 1000 °C, the induction furnace slags ( IFS) have never been investigated for this application. Thus the aim of this paper is the thermophysical and chemical characterization of IFS to be used as high-temperature thermal energy storage materials (around 1000 °C) in packed bed TES system. Chemical investigation of this metallurgical waste was conducted using: Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) coupled with the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Their thermal heat capacity was measured using Modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), while their bulk density was determined using the pycnometer method. It was found that they have a good specific heat capacity ( C p ≈ 700 J/kg °C ) and a good bulk density ( ρ ≈ 2583 kg/m 3 ). The thermal stability of the IFS was assessed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) from room temperature up to 1000 °C; Three cycles of heating/cooling were applied on the IFS and their thermal stability was proved at the end of the first cycle. The obtained results suggest that IFS are good candidate materials for high-temperature thermal energy storage application (up to 1000 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]