Commercialization of Solar Commercialization of Solar cellscells

How it worksHow it works

CellCell ModulesModules PanelsPanels ArraysArrays

Three Types of Silicon Solar cells Three Types of Silicon Solar cells

MonocrystallineMonocrystalline MulticrystallineMulticrystalline Amorphous Amorphous

MonocrystallineMonocrystalline

These silicon cells are saw-cut from a These silicon cells are saw-cut from a single, cylindrical crystal of silicon. They are single, cylindrical crystal of silicon. They are the most efficient of the threethe most efficient of the three

Additional informationAdditional information

High efficiency, roughly 15%High efficiency, roughly 15% Pure Silicon which means no impuritiesPure Silicon which means no impurities Costs are much higherCosts are much higher More detailed required in manufacturingMore detailed required in manufacturing

MulticrystallineMulticrystalline

These are cut from an ingot of melted and These are cut from an ingot of melted and recrystallized silicon.recrystallized silicon.

Additional informationAdditional information

Less efficiency than Less efficiency than MonocrystallineMonocrystalline

Less expensiveLess expensive Square cuts Square cuts

minimize wasted minimize wasted surface areasurface area

Amorphous siliconAmorphous silicon

Rather than coming from a crystal structure, Rather than coming from a crystal structure, these cells are created from a thin layer of these cells are created from a thin layer of silicon atoms.silicon atoms.

Additional informationAdditional information

•No structural uniformity like other silicon solar cells•Requires less temperature to produce•Often used for calculators and other small low energy devices•Hydrogenation

HydrogenationHydrogenation

““But amorphous silicon can be deposited so But amorphous silicon can be deposited so that it contains a small amount of hydrogen, that it contains a small amount of hydrogen, in a process called "hydrogenation." The in a process called "hydrogenation." The result is that the hydrogen atoms combine result is that the hydrogen atoms combine chemically with many of the dangling bonds, chemically with many of the dangling bonds, essentially removing them and permitting essentially removing them and permitting electrons to move through the material.”electrons to move through the material.”

Czochralski processCzochralski processSeed crystal dipped Seed crystal dipped in molten cruciblein molten crucibleSlowly pulled upwardSlowly pulled upwardCreates ingot as it Creates ingot as it slowly turnsslowly turnsConstant heat Constant heat appliedapplied

Cutting ProcessCutting Process

20% waste from 20% waste from cutting thin slices cutting thin slices “kerf”“kerf”

Wire saw with Wire saw with diamonddiamond

CoatingCoating

Anti-reflective coatAnti-reflective coat Electrical contact Electrical contact

forms PV cellsforms PV cells Glass is used for the Glass is used for the

outside protective outside protective layerlayer

John Geisz and Mark WanlassJohn Geisz and Mark Wanlass

40.8 solar cell 40.8 solar cell efficiencyefficiency

Highest ever recordedHighest ever recorded Under 326 sunsUnder 326 suns Gallium indium Gallium indium

phosphidephosphide

How to make a PV at homeHow to make a PV at home

Cut out a copper Cut out a copper piece equal to piece equal to electric burner electric burner sizesize

Leave it on for Leave it on for roughly 1.5 hours roughly 1.5 hours until it oxidizes until it oxidizes (complete black)(complete black)

Let it cool after it Let it cool after it has turned blackhas turned black

As it cools it will As it cools it will shrink (different shrink (different rates of rates of shrinking)shrinking)

Flake off the rest Flake off the rest with your handswith your hands

Complete the CircuitComplete the Circuit

After majority of the After majority of the black flakes are off, black flakes are off, cut another copper cut another copper sheet equal in sizesheet equal in size

Connect clips to Connect clips to each piece dipped each piece dipped in water with in water with sunlightsunlight

Too much for too littleToo much for too little

Only produces .25V at 25 microampsOnly produces .25V at 25 microamps Not efficientNot efficient Requires acres to actually make useRequires acres to actually make use 80,000 square meters to light 100 lightbulbs80,000 square meters to light 100 lightbulbs

VideosVideos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYeynLy6pj8v=qYeynLy6pj8

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/22/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/22/solar-plane-crosses-alps_n_206835.htmlsolar-plane-crosses-alps_n_206835.html

SpacecraftsSpacecrafts

US satellite Vanguard 1, launched in March US satellite Vanguard 1, launched in March 1958 with solar cells made by Hoffman 1958 with solar cells made by Hoffman Electronics Electronics

This was a crucial development which This was a crucial development which stimulated funding from several stimulated funding from several governments into research for improved governments into research for improved solar cells solar cells

U.S Solar CellsU.S Solar Cells

30 megawatt 30 megawatt Being built for Being built for

Austin, TxAustin, Tx Nearby Nearby

WebervilleWeberville 300 Acres300 Acres

Looking at the FutureLooking at the Future Sahara Sahara

DesertDesert Worlds Worlds

largest solar largest solar array array

.03% area is .03% area is enough to enough to power all of power all of EuropeEurope

ArmyArmy

12 acres 12 acres covering former covering former landfill in landfill in ColoradoColorado

2 megawatt 2 megawatt Largest array in Largest array in

armyarmy

ResourcesResources http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/silicon.htmlhttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/silicon.html http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/2008/08/26/Dr-http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/2008/08/26/Dr-

Mark-Wanlass-discusses-award-winning-inverted-Mark-Wanlass-discusses-award-winning-inverted-metamorphic-multi-junction-photovoltaic-cellmetamorphic-multi-junction-photovoltaic-cell

http://scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/echem/echem2.htmlhttp://scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/echem/echem2.html http://dvice.com/archives/2009/06/worlds-largest-4.phphttp://dvice.com/archives/2009/06/worlds-largest-4.php http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/03/us-largest-solar-http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/03/us-largest-solar-

power-facility-approved-in-austin/power-facility-approved-in-austin/ http://ecoworldly.com/2008/03/05/worlds-7-biggest-solar-http://ecoworldly.com/2008/03/05/worlds-7-biggest-solar-

energy-plants/energy-plants/