Amorphous single‐junction cells for vertical BIPV application with high bifaciality

Nies Reininghaus,Clemens Feser,Carsten Agert,Benedikt Hanke,Martin Vehse

doi:10.1002/ese3.116

Nies Reininghaus, Clemens Feser + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.116

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Abstract

AbstractSolar cells used in building integration of photovoltaic cells (BIPV) are commonly made from crystalline wafer cells. This contribution investigates the challenges and benefits of using bifacial solar cells in vertical installations. We show that those cells get up to 13% more irradiance compared to optimum tilted south facing monofacial modules in Germany. The role of the n‐layer in thin amorphous bifacial single‐junction cells intended to be used as bifacial cells in BIPV applications is investigated. In contrast to the superstrate cell design, a transparent n‐layer and back contact play a key role to achieve high bifaciality. We therefore increased the transparency of the n‐layer by adding CO2, increasing the PH3 flow in the deposition gas and tested different thicknesses. With those measures, we reached a bifaciality of 98% for short‐circuit current density and 99% for open‐circuit voltage.

Highlights

The changing situation in the social awareness of climate change and the resulting need for renewable energy facilitates the intention to implement photovoltaic devices into already established products to generate additional benefit
As we demonstrated in a previous paper [5], there is more than one way to fabricate functional bifacial thin film silicon solar modules
Thinking about noise barrier walls lining the motorways and railways going from north to south, we can use the data of Figure 3 to calculate the irradiance shining on a bifacial module (100% bifaciality, vertical installation facing east and west) which it could convert to power

Summary

Introduction

The changing situation in the social awareness of climate change and the resulting need for renewable energy facilitates the intention to implement photovoltaic devices into already established products to generate additional benefit. A vertical one-sided module facing south would generate the highest average yearly yield with an irradiance of 844 kWh/m2/a, which is 74% of the irradiance of the optimum tilted installation.

Results

Conclusion