Photovoltaic Industry Research Articles

Green Energy Development Strategy Towards Green Logistics: Case Study At PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Persero) Benoa Bali

Implementing green logistics involves using environmentally friendly practices and technologies in the management of supply chains and transportation of goods. The potential benefits gained in implementing green logistics include, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy, and resource efficiency, reduced operational costs, reputation, and regulatory compliance. This research aims to create a strategy for developing the use of green energy towards green logistics at Benoa Port. The research methodology using a systematic literature review hybrid type then present several development strategy schemes that will be implemented. The results of the research conclude that the sea side and land side strategies can be applied to Benoa Port, the initial development strategy that has the greatest potential to be implemented is wind energy and solar energy on the land side to support the implementation of green logistics in fulfilling the Port area's electrical energy, the implications of this research will have an impact on the development of green energy for other ports in Indonesia in accordance with the government's national energy policy.

International trade of green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol: Opportunities of China's subregions

Global initiatives to reduce carbon emissions are stimulating the demand for green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol. By 2023, the total low-carbon hydrogen production capacity from announced projects worldwide is projected to reach 38 million tonnes. China is experiencing a surge in green hydrogen projects, with a growing number targeting international markets in addition to domestic demand. This study delves into a systematic modeling analysis to uncover the pivotal roles that China's subregions can play in shaping the future global trade of green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol. Utilizing a dynamic programming model, complemented by an array of supply chain models for detailed cost estimations, the study highlights the unique advantages and vast potential of subregional engagement in both domestic and international trade. Furthermore, the research explores the essential infrastructure demands and assesses the impact of renewable energy costs and policy shifts on the evolving trade landscape.

Investigation on the machining mechanism of silicon modified by Au ion irradiation in elliptical vibration diamond cutting

Single-crystal silicon (Si) has important applications in semiconductor, infrared optics, and photovoltaic industries. However, Si is difficult to be machined precisely due to its hard and brittle characteristics. Ion irradiation is proposed as an advanced technology to reduce the hardness and brittleness for a covalent crystal, which is beneficial for the ductile machining process. In the present research, the simulation and experimental investigation of Si with Au ion irradiation were carried out firstly. As following, the grooving experiment is carried out by elliptical vibration cutting (EVC). the machining performance is compared with ordinary cutting (OC) and the material removal mechanism is elaborated. The critical depth of cut for brittle-to-ductile transition is nearly 7 times higher by EVC compared to OC. Initial verification of material modification was conducted by Raman spectra and cutting microgrooves. Finally, the ion irradiation damage mechanism and amorphous Si (a-Si)/crystalline Si (c-Si) machining deformation mechanism were analyzed in detail by transmission electron microscopy. The irradiated sample contains an amorphous layer of 1050 nm, a transition layer containing dislocations and nanocrystals, and a fully crystalline layer. During machining a-Si/c-Si interface, the machining defects in the amorphous layer will first absorb the energy and ensure that the crystalline layer does not produce subsurface damage. In summary, ion-irradiated Si can be achieved in the amorphous region at any depth position and the substrate ductile machining without subsurface damage generation by EVC.

Efficiency analysis of the innovation-driven sustainable logistics industry

The logistics industry is at the heart of socio-economic development. Disruption in the logistics and supply chain industry grounded many sectors to a halt at the height of COVID-19 with economic and environmental implications. This study examines the efficiency and interconnections among innovation, energy, infrastructure, and logistics performance as the logistics industry strives to attain a green supply chain while maintaining economic growth and environmental sustainability. To capture these relationships, a network data envelopment analysis model is designed for efficiency analysis. 36 % of the evaluated countries had below-average efficiency. Results also indicate innovation and energy sustainability as drivers of efficiency and sustainability in the logistics industry. This implies the need for innovation in logistics energy infrastructure by decarbonizing the logistics industry. Regional and national partnerships in the technological development of green energy to power the logistics industry are recommended.

Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria's Renewable Energy Policy and Legislation

Endowed with abundant renewable energy resources, Nigeria stands at a pivotal point in its energy development journey. This study explores the landscape of renewable energy policy and legislation in Nigeria, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that shape the sector. The research begins with an overview of Nigeria's current energy framework, emphasizing the critical role of renewable energy in achieving sustainable development. It examines existing policies and legislative frameworks, identifying the key government agencies responsible and outlining their respective functions. Despite the country's vast potential, numerous barriers impede the growth of renewable energy. These include legal and regulatory inconsistencies, institutional inefficiencies, financial constraints, and technical challenges. The study delves into these issues, providing a comprehensive analysis of how they hinder progress in renewable energy adoption. Conversely, the research identifies significant opportunities to enhance renewable energy policy and legislation including potential legislative reforms, institutional strengthening, financial incentives, and the promotion of technological innovation and infrastructure development. By leveraging these opportunities, Nigeria can create a more robust and conducive environment for renewable energy growth. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to bridge the existing gaps and foster a sustainable energy future for Nigeria. It also outlines future research directions aimed at optimizing renewable energy policies and practices. Through this comprehensive analysis, the study aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on renewable energy in Nigeria, providing insights to guide effective policy-making and legislative action.

Proposing lead-free Cs2SnI6-nBrn for silicon heterojunction-based tandem solar cell

Emerging Lead (Pb)-free perovskite solar cells are environment-friendly and show higher stability. Such materials are considered the future of the photovoltaic industry. However, the detailed understanding of these materials is still very limited experimentally as well as theoretically. In this work, all inorganic Pb-free perovskites Cs2SnI6-nBrn have been studied as top cell materials for silicon heterojunction (SHJ)-based tandem solar cells. The optoelectronics characteristics including bandgap, optical absorption, effective masses and carrier mobility of Cs2SnI6-nBrn have been calculated by the first-principle with varying Br- alloying. Details theoretical study show that the bandgap of Cs2SnI6-nBrn can tuned over a range of 1.05 eV to 1.99 eV. In addition, carrier mobility has been modelled for the studied perovskites by deformation potential theory. Based on the calculated optoelectronics characteristics, a standalone Cs2SnI6-nBrn solar cell is simulated and 20.5 % efficiency is reported. SHJ-based solar cell is used as the bottom cell with 28.5 % standalone efficiency under standard spectrum illuminations. Finally, the Cs2SnI6-nBrn/SHJ tandem solar cell is designed and a simulated PCE of 39.1 % has been achieved with n = 1. The highest 1.46 V Voc is obtained with a 40.5 mA/cm2 matched current between the top and bottom cells. The proposed work gives a detailed study of Cs2SnI6-nBrn perovskites and is expected to facilitate the production of Pb-free perovskites/SHJ tandem solar cells.

The moderating effect of emission reduction policies on CCS mitigation efficiency

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a critical decarbonization technology for achieving net-zero emissions. High energy costs currently hinder the application of CCS, whereas carbon emission reduction measures directly alter the energy price and influence the cost and emission reduction potential of CCS. However, few studies have focused on the potential impacts and underlying mechanisms of emission reduction policies on CCS. In this study, we construct a computable general equilibrium model with CCS technology to assess the moderating effect of mitigation policies on CCS, and identify feasible policy portfolios to enhance CCS mitigation efficiency. Taking China as a typical case, the results show that, first, energy efficiency improvement and renewable energy policy contribute to mitigating the negative economic impacts of CCS abatement, and terminal electrification policy can enhance the emission reduction of CCS, whereas none of the three measures can achieve a win-win situation in terms of economic and emission impacts. Second, the moderating effect of mitigation policies on CCS exhibits heterogeneity among CCS deploying industries. Promoting terminal electrification is optimal for the coal power industry to improve CCS mitigation efficiency, while renewable energy development has a larger positive effect on the steel, cement, and chemical industries. Third, the combination of a high-intensity renewable energy policy with low-intensity energy efficiency improvements and terminal electrification policy is optimal for overall mitigation efficiency.

Prediction of power generation and maintenance using AOC‐ResNet50 network

AbstractWith the continuous expansion of the photovoltaic industry, the application of solar photovoltaic power generation systems is becoming increasingly widespread. Due to the obvious intermittency and volatility of photovoltaic power generation, integration of large‐scale photovoltaic power generation into the power grid can cause certain impacts on the security and stability of the grid. Photovoltaic power prediction is essential to solve this problem, as it can improve the quality of photovoltaic grid connection, optimize grid scheduling, and ensure the safe operation of the grid. In this article, the deep learning method is selected for photovoltaic power prediction. Based on the analysis of the OctConv (Octave Convolution) network structure, the AOctConv (Attention Octave Convolution) convolutional neural network structure is proposed, which is combined with the ResNet50 backbone network to obtain AOC‐ResNet50. It is then applied to the prediction of the generation of photovoltaic power. The prediction performance is compared with the ResNet50 network and the Oct‐ResNet50 network, and it is found that the AOC‐ResNet50 network has the best prediction performance, with an MAE of only 0.176888. Based on the exemplar work, a framework is proposed to illustrate this method. Its general application is discussed.

Subcell‐Resolved Electroluminescence Imaging of Monolithic Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cell for High‐Throughput Characterization

In the midterm future, the photovoltaic industry is expected to be dominated by two‐terminal (2T) perovskite–silicon (pero–Si) tandem solar cells, which have high energy conversion efficiency and require characterization for large‐scale production. Electroluminescence (EL) imaging is one of the most prevalent and nondestructive techniques for defect detection, recognition, and characterization in Si‐solar cells in mass production. This work presents an EL setup that enables fast, simultaneous, and separate luminescence capture from the two subcells of pero–Si tandem devices. To demonstrate the setup, several encapsulated 2T pero–Si tandem samples are investigated. First, the effect that resistive coupling between the two subcells has on defect appearance in EL images is recorded. Therefore, EL image under different operational conditions is recorded. A strong dependence of defect signatures on current injection is observed, that is explained partly by resistive coupling but partly as well by injection‐dependent changes of the prevalent defects in the cells. An investigation of preconditioning under dark forward operation reveals significant local decrease of EL intensity going along with rapid reversible or irreversible and severe degradation close to the edges of the samples. This degradation takes place under forward bias during a period of ≈1 h.

Do Tradable Green Certificates Promote Regional Carbon Emissions Reduction for Sustainable Development? Evidence from China

The tradable green certificate (TGC) scheme is an important approach for mitigating carbon emissions within the context of a renewable energy development strategy and regional sustainable development. However, studies investigating the role of TGCs in encouraging carbon emissions reduction in China are limited and inconclusive due to ignoring the interference of other renewable energy policies and little distinguishing the impact of different green certificates. Using Chinese provincial data from 2013 to 2023, this study employs a difference-in-differences strategy to estimate the effect of the TGC policy on regional carbon emissions. The results reveal that the TGC policy significantly reduces provincial carbon emissions, and this reduction is predominantly contributed by certificate-electricity integration green certificates rather than certificate-electricity separation certificates. A 1% increase in the provincial trade volume of certificate-electricity integration green certificates can reduce total provincial carbon emissions by 0.8–1.3%. These findings hold across a series of rigorous robustness tests. This study also explains the different effects between certificate-electricity integration and certificate-electricity separation green certificates by the concept of additionality. To effectively reduce carbon emissions in the future, the TGC system must meet the requirement of additionality. These insights can provide reference for the improvement of TGC policy to better achieve the carbon reduction objective and sustainable development.

Recent research progress of MOFs-based heterostructures for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The growing serious energy crisis and environmental pollution expedite the development of green hydrogen energy. Photocatalytic water splitting technology, converting solar energy into chemical energy directly, provides a clean and economical way for hydrogen evolution. For the past few years, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) semiconductor materials have become a research hotspot in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) due to their multiple advantages, including adjustable structure, high porosity, large specific surface area, abundant active sites, and so forth. Besides this, the construction of heterogeneous structures based on MOFs materials can further improve PHE performance through the effective internal electric field directional transfer of photogenerated electrons and the superior utilization rate of sunlight in comparison to the single MOFs photocatalyst. Herein, in this minireview, we summed up the varieties of synthesis methods of diverse types of MOFs heterojunction complex materials, discussed the H2 evolution efficiency based on this heterostructure photocatalyst in detail, and lastly proposed the advantages, limitations, and outlook of MOFs composites in the PHE field. We sincerely hope this review can provide a reference for future research based on MOFs materials for alleviating the current energy crisis.

Regional Disparities and Strategic Implications of Hydrogen Production in 27 European Countries

This study examines hydrogen production across 27 European countries, highlighting disparities due to varying energy policies and industrial capacities. Germany leads with 109 plants, followed by Poland, France, Italy, and the UK. Mid-range contributors like the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Belgium also show substantial investments. Countries like Finland, Norway, Austria, and Denmark, known for their renewable energy policies, have fewer plants, while Estonia, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, and Slovenia are just beginning to develop hydrogen capacities. The analysis also reveals that a significant portion of the overall hydrogen production capacity in these countries remains underutilized, with an estimated 40% of existing infrastructure not operating at full potential. Many countries underutilize their production capacities due to infrastructural and operational challenges. Addressing these issues could enhance output, supporting Europe’s energy transition goals. The study underscores the potential of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source in Europe and the need for continued investment, technological advancements, supportive policies, and international collaboration to realize this potential.

How photovoltaic industry policies foster the development of silicon solar cell manufacturing technology: Based on Self-attention mechanism

With the advancement of silicon solar cell manufacturing technology (SSCM-Tec) driven by subsidy policies, some developing countries have implemented subsidy reduction policies. Concurrently, intense international competition has prompted the implementation of restriction policies. However, due to SSCM involving multiple manufacturing steps, each step comprising various SSCM-Tec, it presents challenges in researching how different types of policies affect SSCM-Tec in each step. We construct the SSCM-Mechanism based on patent claims to capture the nuanced changes in SSCM-Tec caused by the implementation of policies. The results show that: (1) Policies lead to an imbalance in SSCM-Tec advancements among manufacturing steps; (2) Different types of policies have varying impacts on SSCM-Tec. Supportive policies boost enterprises' interest in developing SSCM-Tec, and restrictive policies and subsidy reduction policies speed up SSCM-Tec innovation; (3) The collaboration of various policy types can better drive the advancement of SSCM-Tec. Employing the right type of policy at the opportune moment serves as a crucial driving force for fostering innovation in SSCM-Tec. These findings reveal the multifaceted impact of policies on SSCM-Tec, providing policymakers with a clearer perspective to formulate more precise policies for guiding the direction of SSCM-Tec development and accelerating its innovation pace.

Mapping the carbon mitigation potential of photovoltaic development in the Gobi and desert regions of China

The sunny, sparsely populated sand, gravel, and other desert regions known as the Gobi and desert regions (GDRs) have significant advantages and enormous potential in the development of solar resources. Based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and multi-source datasets, this study used the random forest algorithm to identify the current distribution of GDRs in China, analyzed the carbon mitigation potential (CMP), and further explored the layout optimization strategies for the future development of China's GDRs photovoltaic (PV) industry. Research has found that only 2.25 % of the land in GDRs of the five provincial-level administrative units involved in GDRs was used for PV development, and there was still a large amount of land suitable for PV development; Regional solar energy resources were crucial for PV development, but policy support and terrain characteristics could not be underestimated; When the installed area of GDRs, which is most suitable for installing PV facilities, reaches 50 %, it can meet the electricity consumption of the entire Chinese society in 2022. At this time, the CMP was about 5.39 × 1012 kg CO2. The research results can provide decision-making basis for China's PV industry, and the research framework is also applicable to other similar regions.

The alleviating effect of household distributed photovoltaics on multidimensional relative poverty in rural areas

Relative poverty represents a major obstacle to China's rural revitalization efforts and necessitates enhanced policy support. This study aims to investigate the impact of household distributed photovoltaic (HDPV) on relative poverty conditions. Based on 337 questionnaire data from Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province in 2022, we construct a multidimensional relative poverty index using the Alkire-Foster method to assess the level of relative poverty. We employ fixed-effects models and mediation models to evaluate the effectiveness of HDPV in alleviating relative poverty. The results indicate that HDPV reduce the multidimensional relative poverty level of rural residents by approximately 0.058, demonstrating that installing HDPV can significantly alleviate multidimensional relative poverty. This effect is primarily achieved through increased investment in children's education. Additionally, we find that the alleviation effect varies by income level, with lower-income households experiencing greater improvements compared to higher-income households. Specifically, HDPV reduce the poverty level of the low-income group by approximately 0.0969, while the high-income group saw a reduction of about 0.0313. The findings of this study enrich the research on relative poverty in China by revealing the poverty-alleviating attributes of HDPV. It provides support for the development of renewable energy and regional development policies and has practical significance for advancing photovoltaic building integration.

Public investment on renewable energy R&D Projects: The role of geopolitical risk, and economic and political uncertainties

Recently, there has been growing concern about the impacts of geopolitical tension as well as economic and political uncertainties on the decision-making process of governments when it comes to allocating resources for renewable energy R&D. This paper employs the panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), cross-sectional panel autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) technique to examine the impacts of geopolitical risk, economic and political uncertainties, renewable energy technologies innovations, government financial affordability and CO2 emissions on government spending on renewable energy research and development projects. The novel aspects of the panel ARDL and CS-ARDL methodologies lie in their ability to capture both short-run and long-run dynamics within a panel data framework, as well as their ability to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships under investigation. The empirical results presented in this paper indicate that in the face of ongoing geopolitical tension, as well as economic and political uncertainties, financially capable governments continue to increase their investments in renewable energy R&D in the long run. This strategic move aims to safeguard the supply of renewable energy, uphold economic and political policy credibility, maintain a first-mover advantage, and establish control over the intellectual property rights associated with renewable energy technology.

The Evaluation of Use Photovoltaics (PV) in Renewable Energy Technology as Sustainability Strategies

The United Nations (UN) proposed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to make the earth peaceful and prosperous by 2030. Abundant water and food supply, sustainable energy consumption, climate change mitigation, and sustainable energy consumption are considered the keys to better sustainability. For example, the food sector is responsible for 30% of global energy consumption, 21-37% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and 70% of global water withdrawals. Integrating renewable energy into a country's energy mix largely depends on the implementation of renewable energy policies. Sustainably developed solar photovoltaic options to meet energy. The main focus is to achieve energy security and independence with special emphasis on solar energy, to drive transformative change towards widespread adoption of renewable energy. The research method uses a literature study and the findings are in the form of the direction of the Indonesian Government's policy setting, namely the National Energy General Plan (RUEN) which is the basis for regulation through Presidential Regulation Number 79 of 2014 with the aim of changing the increase in the national energy share to 23% by 2025. This regulation aims to create opportunities for PT PLN (Persero) customers in the household, business, government, social, and industrial sectors to be actively involved in the utilization and management of renewable energy in a sustainable manner and provide insight into the sustainability of solar energy, including environmental and economic development.

An ensemble learning framework for snail trail fault detection and diagnosis in photovoltaic modules

This research proposes a method for detecting subtle faults named snail trails for their visual similarity with the trail of a snail in photovoltaic modules. Snail trails do not significantly reduce panel performance but they are the main cause of serious panel deterioration such as microcracks and delamination and can go so far as to set the panel on fire. To detect these faults, this research uses an ensemble learning framework, named ensemble learning for diagnosis, which combines several complementary learning algorithms, namely Support Vector Machines, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Decision Trees. A set of features is obtained by extracting the time–frequency characteristics and statistics from the photovoltaic current signal of the photovoltaic panel. This is followed by a feature selection and dimensionality reduction step that delivers the input to the learning algorithms. The approach presented in this study is experimentally validated, independently for the 4 seasons of the year, with data from a real photovoltaic string of 16 panels. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can efficiently classify healthy panels and panels with snail trails efficiently. Interestingly, the method only requires the electrical current signal, measured on panels with data acquisition systems that are standard in the photovoltaic industry. The genericity of the approach makes it a good candidate for detecting other photovoltaic faults and for solving diagnosis problems in other domains.

The impact of renewable energy policies on the energy transition -– An empirical analysis of Chinese cities

Amidst the intensifying global energy crisis, the advancement of renewable energy stands as a critical element in China's strategy for energy transition (ET) and efforts to mitigate climate change. This paper aims to offer fresh insights into the determinants of ET from the renewable energy policy (REP) perspective. By employing panel data from 280 Chinese cities covering the period from 2003 to 2019, and applying the text-mining methodology, this analysis initially explores the impact of REP on the ET. Our empirical findings demonstrate that REP significantly promotes ET, with our proposed hypotheses successfully enduring a series of robustness tests. This acceleration is predominantly through two mechanisms: the stimulation of green technology innovation and the enhancement of ET readiness. However, the influence of energy system performance on this transition is insignificant. This investigation reveals a pronounced regional heterogeneity in the effects that REP on ET. Specifically, the positive impact of these policies is stronger in the eastern cities of China, also in small and medium-sized cities, and cities with high levels of economic development, human capital, finance development, lower environmental pollution levels, and old industry areas. These findings provide valuable references for China and other countries pursuing similar objectives.

The Role of Renewable Energy Policy and R&D in Renewables Diffusion

This paper explores how investments in research and development (R&D) and government policies impact the growth of renewable energy in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia up to 2040. The study presents four scenarios to understand how different levels of R&D investment and the presence or absence of supportive policies affect the spread of renewable technologies such as solar and wind energy. The scenarios range from an optimistic one with high R&D funding and strong policy support to a worst-case scenario with low R&D efforts and weak policies. The findings emphasize the importance of solid government backing and strategic R&D investments in promoting renewable energy and increasing the number of green patents. On the other hand, scenarios with limited policy support and R&D funding show much slower growth, highlighting the challenges posed by economic constraints and tough market conditions. The study shows that strong renewable energy policies could boost renewable energy adoption by 100% to 200%. Overall, this research adds to the discussion on sustainable energy policies and provides useful insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop strategies that maximize the potential of renewable energy in the region.