Search

Photon management strategies are crucial to improve the efficiency of perovskite thin film (PTF) solar cell. In this work, a nano-cone (NC) based 2D photonic nanostructure is designed and simulated aiming at achieve superior light trapping performance by introducing strong light scattering and interferences within perovskite active layer. Compared to the planar PTF solar cell, the NC nanostructured device with 45 degrees half apex angle obtains highest short-circuit current density, which improved over 20% from 15.00 mA/cm2 to 18.09 mA/cm2. This work offers an alternative design towards effective light trapping performance using 2D photonic nanostructure for PTF solar cell and could potentially be adopted as the nano-structuring strategy for the future perovskite solar cell industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si) photovoltaic cells and their production play a pivotal role in advancing energy utilization within the rapidly expanding solar industry, which serves as a critical driver in realizing global sustainability objectives and mitigating environmental repercussions associated with energy production. Here, we introduce a novel two-step pattern transfer technique to successfully imprint a two-dimensional plasmonic micro-square periodic array onto an Si substrate, utilizing Kapton® Tape and plasma technology. Remarkably, this represents the first-ever application of flexible and stretchable Kapton® polyimide for pattern transfer onto Si. The vacuum plasma treatment plays a pivotal role in significantly enhancing surface adhesion performance, thereby facilitating the efficient pattern transfer process. As a result, the resulting microstructure exhibits exceptional performance as a plamonic broadband absorber in the visible region, making it a highly promising candidate for enhancing efficiency in Si-based solar cells. To support our experimental findings, the finite-difference time domain method was employed for simulating the fabricated plasmonic structure and determining the electric field distribution. The simulation results unequivocally affirm the robust and intense light trapping capabilities of the microstructure. Moreover, our fabrication technique demonstrates the potential for achieving high-resolution microstructure through an innovative, straightforward, and cost-efficient approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A desire to shift from fossil fuels to non-carbon-emitting energy sources has become an imperative supported by national, state, and local policies. In the U.S., a diverse array of policies at multiple levels of government have helped the solar industry achieve exponential growth. These advancements, however, are mediated by local implementation processes, which might be expected to have a large impact in the context of U.S. federalism. This paper investigates the effects of two countervailing forces – policy incentives and implementation disincentives – on residential solar adoption in New Jersey. The New Jersey case study includes two complementary analyses designed to illuminate policy incentives and implementation disincentives, respectively. The first is an interrupted time-series analysis that evaluates the effects of federal and statewide renewable energy policies on residential photovoltaic (PV) growth. The second is a set of semi-structured in-depth interviews with solar industry experts, providing implementation insights from the solar industry and indirectly portraying residential customers' experiences. Results confirm that market-based instruments at the state-level play a crucial role in increasing the relative financial advantage of these systems and, thus, the attraction of residential solar PV to adopters. In addition, the behaviours of future adopters and the valuation of this technology as an investment in the housing market will impact the spread of residential PV systems in the future. Unfortunately, case study findings also confirm that an absence of standardized solar application procedures and outdated interconnection standards is a significant drag on the adoption rate. This highlights a need for policymakers to place greater emphasis on local implementation pathways in solar policy design. Options to achieve this include more robust ex-ante coordination among state and local levels of government and with industry to standardize implementation processes. While U.S. federalism may at times be constraining, our results suggest that even minimal levels of ex-ante coordination can lead to implementation gains that will have a large impact on solar diffusion outcomes. Federal and state-level financial incentives significantly impact the residential photovoltaic solar adoption rate. The absence of streamlined interconnection application procedures and outdated interconnection standards for the grid limit the residential PV adoption in New Jersey. Our findings underline the importance of paying equal attention to both policy design and to technical standards to underpin implementation processes, especially in the decentralized context of U.S. federalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have shown a significant increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) under laboratory circumstances from 2006 to the present, rising from 3.8% to an astonishing 25%. This scientific breakthrough corresponds to the changing energy situation and rising industrial potential. The flexible perovskite solar cell (FPSC), which capitalizes on the benefits of perovskite thin-film deposition and operates at low temperatures, is key to this transition. The FPSC is strategically important for large-scale deployment and mass manufacturing, especially when combined with the benefits of perovskite thin-film deposition under moderate thermodynamic conditions. Its versatility is demonstrated by the ease with which it may be folded, rolled, or coiled over flexible substrates, allowing for efficient transportation. Notably, FPSCs outperform traditional solar panels in terms of adaptability. FPSCs have several advantages over rigid substrates, including mobility, lightweight properties that help transportation, scalability via roll-to-roll (R2R) deposition, and incorporation into textiles and architecture. This in-depth examination dives into their fundamental design and various fabrication techniques, which include conducting substrates, absorber layers, coordinated charge movement, and conductive electrodes. This review evaluates critical FPSC fabrication techniques such as thermal evaporation, R2R approaches, slot die and spray deposition, blade coating, and spin coating. The present challenges in constructing FPSCs with high performance and long-term stability are also highlighted. Finally, the solar industry's potential uses for both indoor and outdoor FPSCs have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is evidence of substantial improvement in efficiency and cost reduction from the integration of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Drones (RAID) in solar installations; it is observed that there is limited oversight by international standards such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in terms of the hazards and untapped potentials. This is partly because it is an emerging application and generally burdened with social acceptability issues. Thus, the safety regulations applied are adaptations of device-specific regulations as deemed fit by individual companies. Also, due to the fast-paced technological development of these platforms, there is huge potential for applications that are not currently supported by the device-specific regulations. This creates a multi-faceted demand for the establishment of standardized, industry-wide polices and guidelines on the use of RAID platforms for Solar PV integrations. This work aims to address critical safety concerns by conducting a comprehensive high-level system examination applicable to the monitoring and maintenance of Solar PV systems. Standard safety assurance models and approaches are examined to provide a safe autonomy perspective for Solar PVs. It is considered that, as RAID applications continue to evolve and become more prevalent in the Solar PV industry, standardized protocols or policies would be established to ensure safe and reliable operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar cells are commonly recognized as one of the most promising devices that can be utilized to produce energy from renewable sources. As a result of their low production costs, little material consumption, and projected increasing trajectory in terms of efficiency, thin-film solar cells have emerged as the technology of choice in the solar industry at present. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of silicon thin-film solar cells, beginning with their inception and progressing up to the most cutting-edge module made in a laboratory setting. There is a review of the fantastic development of each technology, as well as its cell configuration, restrictions, equivalent circuit model, cell performance, and global market share. The dependability and availability of cell materials, in addition to the comparison of numerous characteristics, are both areas of research that are conducted concurrently for each of the distinct technologies. New advances in solar cells are also highlighted; these hold the potential to be significant variables and solutions in the process of the future's development. This abbreviated and brief version of the comprehensive analysis is provided to readers in the hope that it will aid them in evaluating potential research avenues about the proper applications and production of solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) installations have experienced significant growth in the past 20 years. During this period, the solar industry has witnessed technological advances, cost reductions, and increased awareness of renewable energy's benefits. As more than 90% of the commercial solar cells in the market are made from silicon, in this work we will focus on silicon-based solar cells. As PV research is a very dynamic field, we believe that there is a need to present an overview of the status of silicon solar cell manufacturing (from feedstock production to ingot processing to solar cell fabrication), including recycling and the use of artificial intelligence. Therefore, this work introduces the silicon solar cell value chain with cost and sustainability aspects. It provides an overview of the main manufacturing techniques for silicon ingots, specifically Czochralski and directional solidification, with a focus on highlighting their key characteristics. We discuss the major challenges in silicon ingot production for solar applications, particularly optimizing production yield, reducing costs, and improving efficiency to meet the continued high demand for solar cells. We review solar cell technology developments in recent years and the new trends. We briefly discuss the recycling aspects, and finally, we present how digitalization and artificial intelligence can aid in solving some of the current PV industry challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is certain that perovskite materials must be a game‐changer in the solar industry as long as their stability reaches a level comparable with the lifetime of a commercialized Si photovoltaic. However, the operational stability of perovskite solar cells and modules still remains unresolved, especially when devices operate in practical energy‐harvesting modes represented by maximum power point tracking under 1 sun illumination at ambient conditions. This review article covers from fundamental aspects of perovskite instability including chemical decomposition pathways under light soaking and electrical bias, to recent advances and techniques that effectively prevent such degradation of perovskite solar cells and modules. In particular, fundamental causes for permanent degradation due to ion migration and trapped charges are overviewed and explain their interplay between ions and charges. Based on the degradation mechanism, recent advances on the strategies are discussed to slow down the degradation during operation for a practical use of perovskite‐based solar devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy has been the most emphasized issue in recent years, as it is sustainable and causes zero emissions. In the solar cell industry, new manufacturing protocols have led to the development of materials with enhanced properties. Over the past decades, perovskite solar cells (PSC) have obtained a power conversion efficiency (PCE) to be 25% due to the development of synthesis techniques, electrode materials, etc. There is an important relationship between the thickness of the transport layers (hole and electron) in the case of improving the yield of perovskite solar cells. We have investigated the influence of the acid-assisted and acetylacetone-assisted (AA) methods on TiO2 films and thus the effect on the PCE of perovskite solar cells. Perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) layer and different compact TiO2 (c-TiO2) layers have been coated by the spin coating method, and the overall experimental section is made in the nitrogen medium at room temperature. Through an acid-assisted method, the cracked c-TiO2 film was formed. The planar solar cell structure of ITO/AA-TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3/P3HT/Ag resulted in 0.03% of PCE. However, the perovskite solar cells with a mesoporous solar cell structure of ITO/ AA-TiO2/m-TiO2 /CH3NH3PbI3/P3HT/Ag resulted in 0.1% of PCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania's flourishing solar energy sector necessitates responsible management of photovoltaic (PV) panel waste. The research examines at the current level of PV panel recycling and anticipates future production of waste. By examining data on solar production capacity and panel characteristics, the study forecasts a significant rise in PV waste. Supportive legislation and rising environmental consciousness have contributed to increased PV installations, but regulating the waste produced is essential. The analysis predicts a jump in trash volume, reaching at least 32,892 tons by 2033, a stunning 2336% increase over 2024–2032. This represents an exceptional chance for Romania to become a European leader in PV panel recycling. Romania could establish an innovative industry, acquire recycled materials for new panels, and encourage a circular solar energy economy if it optimizes its waste management. Together with EU policies to promote the use of recycled materials in the production process of new panels, a national PV waste management strategy needs to be developed, with collaboration between government, industry and environmental organizations. This paper provides significant insights for participants in Romania's solar energy market. By identifying the challenges as well as opportunities relating to PV waste management, interested parties could collaborate proactively to build an economically viable future for solar energy in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced nanofluid with high stability is essential to meet the demands of the current industry and solar thermal systems. In industrial application, graphene oxide (GO) nanofluid formulated with ethylene glycol (EG)/water (W) is usually well-known for good stability along with high thermal conductivity. In this research, GO nanofluid is characterized for exploring its thermal, optical and suspension stability under certain conditions and then utilized as working fluid in photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system for measuring its performance compared to those of water and Al2O3, TiO2 and hybrid Al2O3-TiO2-based nanofluids. The thermal conductivity, thermal stability, morphology and optical absorbance are characterized by using thermal analyzer, TGA, SEM and UV–vis analysis, respectively. The results revealed that the thermal conductivity of GO/EG:W nanofluid was increased by 9.5% at 40 °C compared to water. It also showed good stability with a zeta potential of 30.3 mV. The numerical implantation of GO/EG:W nanofluid performed by COMSOL Multiphysics software presented significant improvement compared to Al2O3/EG:W, TiO2/EG:W and TiO2-Al2O3/EG:W nanofluids with a concentration of 0.01 mass% to 0.1 mass%. The measured electrical and thermal efficiencies of the PV/T system were 13.5% and 76%, respectively, using GO/EG:W with 0.07 kg s−1 mass flow rate and 0.01 mass% concentration. The stated findings identified GO/EG:W nanofluid as more effective in enhancing PV/T system's performance than other tested working fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most common sustainable energy resources that contributes a significant portion of the energy produced from renewable resources is solar photovoltaic energy. The research presented in this paper examines the behaviour of a 150.7 kWp grid-connected PV energy generation system in either feeding electrical loads to a site (a public university, GCU Faisalabad) or feeding into the utility grid when the generation from the PV system is greater than the demand from the on-site load. PVSyst 7.4 software was used in the system simulation together with Meteonorm to produce and measure climatic information sets (solar irradiance, ambient temperature, and wind speed). The analysis of the simulated energy yields included determining the optimal energy generation photovoltaic array, the energy that is fed into the utility network, normalised energy generation per installed kWp, and performance ratio. The computed annual worldwide incident energy on the collector without optical adjustments was 1764.0 kWh/m2, and the annual effective global irradiance after optical losses was 1654.7 kWh/m2. With this irradiation, the solar (PV) array produced 218.12 MWh of DC energy annually, whereas 211.70 MWh of AC energy was injected into the national grid. The designed PV system collected 0.87 kilowatt-hour/kWp/day, with system losses of 0.120 kilowatt-hour /kWp/day and 3.85 kilowatt-hour /kWp/day of produced useful energy. The measured average yearly performance ratio (PR) was 79.64%. In the month of January, the highest PR value of 85.4% was achieved. [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]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high efficiency and low cost are being actively developed. In recent years, the role of lead-based PSCs has become very important in the solar cell industry. But its toxicity and instability present a significant challenge to the development of commercially viable products. Under such circumstances, Ti-based all-inorganic (PSC) materials are of paramount importance in the development of high-performance PSCs. This work examines the theoretical feasibility of a lead-free, environmentally friendly, and reliable Cs2TiBr6-based PSC. The analysis of various hole transport layers (HTLs) and electron transport layers (ETLs) is performed in order to select materials that would result in stronger perovskite solar cells with higher stability. The goal of this paper is to design a lead-free PSC using Cs2TiBr6 as an absorber layer in the form of Au/CuSbS2/ Cs2TiBr6/WO3/FTO. Each composite layer is optimized and analyzed through simulations utilizing SCAPS-1D software to achieve elevated performance. A maximum power-conversion efficiency of 20.40% is achieved for the proposed solar cell through optimization of the ETL, HTL, metal contact materials, defect density of the absorber and the thickness of the absorber, HTL, and FTO. These results will pave the way for developing eco-friendly and highly efficient perovskite photovoltaic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the challenges related to solar photovoltaic (PV) development with a pivotal focus on the impacts of the dynamics of the relevant markets and technological advancements in the solar industry. In this regard, household investments into rooftop solar PV modules as one of the available incentives are investigated based on a conducted experiment in Lithuania for selecting rooftop solar PV systems for the prosumer by measuring the attractiveness of solar PV modules by a categorical-based evaluation technique (MACBETH). While a variety of multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods used by scholars have their specifics in terms of application and the divergence of results, the findings of the conducted experiment reveal MACBETH's utility when based upon qualitative judgments about the differences in the attractiveness of offers, quantifying their relative value and accordingly ranking the latter. The findings also confirm MACBETH's potential to be used not only to solve operational and tactical tasks but also for strategic objectives of private and public organizations aiming at competitive and sustainable development in short- and long-term contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is a novel and eco-friendly power source. India's vast solar resources present tremendous solar energy use prospects. The solar PV growth in India has spanned over fifty years, with a significant increase during the past decade. To meet the requirements of the rapidly expanding PV power market in India, it is essential to define, scrutinize, and comprehend the industry's development path and features. This study comprehensively analyzes the current state of solar resources, the future growth prospects of the solar PV sector, and the major factors that influence the industry's smooth growth. The study relates to the following five major factors: technological R&D, industrial planning, rules and regulations, power pricing guidelines, and projects enticement programs. To explore these elements, a multifaceted approach consisting of an inclusive literature research, statistical data inquiry, legislation review, and regulatory and policy analysis is undertaken. Analyzing the usual occurrences, the development process, and the features of the five elements permits the growth of development route models. The findings of this study provide information regarding the current development and future prospects of PV power sector in India. In today's rapidly changing social, economic, and technological landscapes, policymakers have the opportunity to gain better understanding from the ever-evolving practices and new advances in the business paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam has enormous potential for solar power thanks to its favorable geographical location. In recent years, the Vietnamese government has strived to develop renewable energy. The objective of this paper is to measure the operational efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants using data envelopment analysis (DEA) with the epsilon-based measure (EBM) model. The utilization of the EBM model is due to its advantage to integrate radial and non-radial measurements to get a more exact estimate of relative efficiency. Using the merits of the EBM model, a case study of 18 decision-making units (DMUs) in Vietnam is presented. In the proposed model, three input variables are selected, which are capital cost, installed capacity, solar irradiation, while energy production and consumer density are considered as output variables. Following that, the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method is used to assess the validity and applicability of results. The results illustrate that two methods reach common rankings, in which the priority rankings of the best performing DMUs are very similar. This shows that the applied models are robust in nature. This paper offers significant materials that serve as practical and timelier solutions for decision-makers in the operating and management strategies of the solar energy industry, also a critical guideline in many related decision-making problems for any other industries around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ceramica is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Ceramica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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]

• 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]

For the solar energy industry to increase its competitiveness, there is a global drive to lower the cost of solar‐generated electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) module assembly is material‐demanding, and the cover glass constitutes a significant proportion of the cost. Currently, 3‐mm‐thick glass is the predominant cover material for PV modules, accounting for 10%–25% of the total cost. Here, we review the state‐of‐the‐art of cover glasses for PV modules and present our recent results for improvement of the glass. These improvements were demonstrated in terms of mechanical, chemical and optical properties by optimizing the glass composition, including addition of novel dopants, to produce cover glasses that can provide (i) enhanced UV protection of polymeric PV module components, potentially increasing module service lifetimes; (ii) re‐emission of a proportion of the absorbed UV photon energy as visible photons capable of being absorbed by the solar cells, thereby increasing PV module efficiencies and (iii) successful laboratory‐scale demonstration of proof of concept, with increases of 1%–6% in Isc and 1%–8% in Ipm. Improvements in both chemical and crack resistance of the cover glass were also achieved through modest chemical reformulation, highlighting what may be achievable within existing manufacturing technology constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through using a linear optimization model that interprets solar energy and current deficit parameters, investment plans were performed for countries which have current deficit problem of energy source. The specifics of the study are due to the linear optimization model, which reveals the current deficit and solar energy together for the investment strategy. While the model is constituted, without affecting the existed current account, some parameters based on such as profit transfers for foreign investments, payments of interest for domestic investments, import rates for photovoltaic solar panels, solar energy electricity production values, electricity demand projection for the future and import resource rates for electricity production. In the framework of these constraints of the model, the effects of solar systems on domestic investment and foreign direct investments on current account balance are analyzed for the period of 2017-2030 in Turkey. In the application of the model in Turkey to reduce the current deficit, this is concluded that the solar energy is a significant opportunity. In addition, the linear optimization model is considered as a reference for countries facing energy-related current deficit problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for solar energy in the United States has increased significantly over the past half century. Despite the falling costs of solar infrastructure, the United States solar energy market is at a turning point. In 2017, two insolvent U.S. solar manufacturers, Suniva and SolarWorld America, successfully petitioned the International Trade Commission (ITC) to invoke Section 201 of the 1974 Trade Act. The two U.S. manufacturers argued that a surplus of imported Chinese solar panels has driven the cost of solar infrastructure too low and forced them out of the market. The ITC responded by recommending tariffs on global solar photovoltaic (PV) panel imports, which were then implemented by President Trump in early 2018. This note addresses the negative effects that PV import tariffs have on investment in the U.S. solar energy market, posits that a free-market approach toward PV panel trade will maximize investment in solar energy, and explains that imposing tariffs on PV panel imports leads to more net harm than good. [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]

• 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]

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]

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]

Research Summary: Explanations of entrants' survival in an emerging industry are premised on pre-entry capabilities or technology entry choices prior to the emergence of the dominant design. We consider how these drivers interact to strengthen or nullify firms' pre-entry advantage, and facilitate adaptation as the industry evolves. We also expand the treatment of exit by separating dissolution from acquisition, in which firms' capabilities continue to be utilized in the industry. Studying a recent shakeout in the global solar photovoltaic industry, we find that pre-entry capabilities and technology choices act in a complementary manner for some firms, thereby enhancing survival, and as buffers against exit for others. Nearly half of exits were via acquisitions, and technology choice at entry played an important role in determining how firms exited. Managerial Summary: New industries are often characterized by intense technology competition that culminates in a dominant technology followed by industry shakeout. Although prior research underscores the central role of technology choice and firm capabilities to survival, we do not actually know how firms with different capabilities and who have made competing technology choices survive an industry shakeout. In this article, we show how entrants' capabilities and technology choices can act in a complementary manner for some firms, enhancing their chance of survival, and as buffers against failure for others. Moreover, we explain why some firms that do exit are acquired, when others are dissolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra-firm actors have been acknowledged as vital to the success of green energy industries. This article deploys the firm network perspective to deliver a first of its kind analysis of specific extra-firm actor impacts on firm performance in Korea's solar photovoltaic industry. Results are based on quantitative analyses of data from 60 firm respondents and augmented by interviews with eight government officials. Three research questions capture and compare firm and government actor perceptions pertaining to extra-firm actor influences at the national, regional, and extra-local scales, inclusive of place-place competition and cooperation. Results indicate that firms differ in perceptions related to the impact of 18 national level government institutes, R&D centers, associations, and academic societies on their success, and that perceptions vary by level of technology concerning a plethora of other related extra-firm actor and support infrastructure impacts. A comparative perspective is presented based on government informant interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's photovoltaic (PV) industry has undergone dramatic development in recent years and is now the global market leader in terms of newly added capacity. However, market diffusion and adoption in China is not ideal. This paper examines the blocking and inducement mechanisms of China's PV industry development from the perspective of technological innovation. By incorporating a Technological Innovation System (TIS) approach, the analysis performed here complements the previous literature, which has not grounded itself in a theoretical framework. In addition, to determine the current market dynamics, we closely examine market concentration trends as well as the vertical and horizontal integration of upstream and downstream actors (74.8% and 36.3%). The results of applying the TIS framework reveal that poor connectivity in networks, unaligned competitive entities and a lack of market supervision obstruct the development of China's PV industry. Therefore, we maintain that inducement mechanisms are required to instigate learning-by-doing capacities, which may help overcome blocking mechanisms and offset functional innovation deficiencies. In addition, policy implications are proposed for promoting the development of the PV industry in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]