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Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) particle detectors have been considered as alternatives to crystalline silicon detectors (c-Si) in high radiation environments, due to their excellent radiation hardness. However, although their capability for particle flux measurement in beam monitoring applications is quite satisfactory, their minimum ionizing particle (MIP) detection has always been problematic because of the poor signal-to-noise ratio caused by a low charge collection efficiency and relatively high (compared to crystalline silicon) leakage current. In this article, after a review of the status of technological research for a-Si:H detectors, a perspective view on MIP detection and beam flux measurements with these detectors will be given.

8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion; 1099-1104, In this work we give an overview of the module monitoring results achieved within the H2020 funded project called HighLite. A dedicated online monitoring platform has been developed for the project to group and treat the data from all partners with homogeneous procedures. Monitoring of advanced prototype modules developed in the project and based on various cells and interconnection approaches, like silicon-heterojunction (SHJ)-shingle, TopCon-shingle, cut interdigital back-contact cells (cut-IBC) are reported. We describe key learnings from monitoring modules for various applications including building-applied PV (BAPV) and building-integrated PV (BIPV). Annual energy yield up to 1900 kWh/kWp is expected in Cadarache (France) based on HighLite PV technology. Temperature corrected performance ratios are used for a ranking of the new technologies against the reference PERC modules.

8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion; 636-641, Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells and bifacial modules are expected to rapidly grow in the PV market, with their high power conversion efficiency, good performance at low irradiation and better temperature coefficients (TCs) allowing for improved energy yields. It is therefore increasingly relevant to have comparative analyses with conventional monofacial modules and market leading PERC cells. The aim of this contribution is to assess the performance of five PV modules on a rooftop monitoring station in Neuchâtel: two bifacial SHJ, two monofacial SHJ and one benchmark monofacial PERC. These three module types allow for detailed comparisons of performance enhancing factors both on the module structure and solar cell technology levels, allowing to decouple individual performance effects. After almost two years of monitoring, results show that bifacial modules yield 7.2% energy gains over both monofacial technologies, and 5% improved performance ratio (PR). For the corrected PR, current bifacial corrections may not fully describe the angular, optical and seasonal effects, as a 2.2% bifacial gain is still observed after temperature and rear irradiance corrections, leaving room for improvement in the current bifacial PR definition. In terms of temperature dependence, field-based TCs are found to be better for SHJ cells than PERC (-0.16%/°C vs. -0.31%/°C at STC, respectively), although performance gains also vary with irradiance conditions.

38th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 1608-1611, In order to minimize unnecessary land exploitation and to allow PV to play a major role in the decarbonization of Europe, a massive deployment of PV in Europe should occur through the integration of PV in buildings and infrastructures, including the integration of PV on surfaces with a sub-optimal orientation. To assess the meaningfulness of installing PV on surfaces with sub-optimal orientations, we consider firstly the carbon intensity balances for PV. We show that for several cities (Milan, Frankfurt, La Valletta, …), it becomes obvious that a carbon intensity balance is largely in favor of PV not only for the optimal orientations, but also for less favorable ones: i.e. all the facades, including north-facing ones. For other cities/countries with a very low carbon footprint for the local electricity mixes (e.g. Oslo), the installation of PV may in principle not always be justifiable exclusively from a carbon balance point of view. We should however point out that in countries massively relying on nuclear power for their electricity supply – or planning nuclear phase-outs - other elements should be considered simultaneously. We also highlight the fact that installations in surfaces with less optimal orientations (e.g. north-facing facades) should possibly not be incentivized in the first place, but not expressly “prohibited” (or abandoned), as we have demonstrated that, in several countries, they are fully justifiable from the point of view of a carbon footprint balance. In addition, this may still help in promoting and creating “PV-awareness” among citizens and help architects in preserving building harmony/aesthetics.

36th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 1003-1006, In this work, we present the set up of a testing facility for photovoltaic (PV) modules and other PV system components in Dakar, Senegal. This creation is the result of a collaboration between the Polytechnic Schools of Dakar (ESP) and Lausanne (EPFL) aiming at improving the quality of PV systems by selecting components with sufficient quality. This testing center should also contribute to the education of all actors involved in the PV sector and contribute to research activities on the aging and failure mode analysis of PV modules exposed to sub-Saharian climates such as the hot semiarid climate of Dakar region but also those of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, including Senegal.