New technologies for solar photovoltaic modules

Recently, the solar photovoltaic module industry has received a lot of good news about the successful research and development of new modules not only in the process and technology reform, but also in the manufacturing material innovation. Recently, there are 12 new technologies of solar photovoltaic modules in the market. Here is a summary of the latest research of solar photovoltaic modules, such as mono crystal solar panels, off grid solar system, portable solar panels, which interested people can have a deeper understanding of the current development of solar photovoltaic module technology.

1. Ink-jet Printing Technology Reduces Copper Indium Gallium Selenium Solar Photovoltaic Modules

Traditional solar photovoltaic module technology is very time-consuming, and requires expensive vacuum systems and toxic chemicals. The use of meteorological deposition precipitation compounds, such as copper indium gallium selenium (CIGS), can result in the loss of a large number of expensive materials. Engineers at Oregon State University have developed a way to make copper indium gallium selenium solar photovoltaic modules by ink-jet printing technology, which can reduce the loss of raw materials by 90% and greatly reduce the cost of expensive compounds to produce solar photovoltaic modules. Researchers have developed an ink-jet that can print chalcopyrite on a substrate with an energy conversion efficiency of 5%. Although the conversion efficiency is not enough for commercial use, the researchers say that they hope to increase its rate to 12% in the next study.

2. Mono Crystal Poly-crystalline Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic Modules

A Chinese solar module manufacturer has developed new hybrid solar photovoltaic module that can effectively reduce the cost of solar photovoltaic power generation by 10-20%. The module is made up of 70% mono crystalline silicon and 30% poly silicon. The cost of a mono crystal solar panel and poly crystalline silicon wafer is half that of a conventional mono crystalline silicon wafer. Since silicon wafers account for only a fraction of the total cost of solar power, so they could help reduce the overall cost of solar power by 10-20%.

3. Full Spectrum Solar Photovoltaic Modules

Canadian scientists say that they have developed a new type of full-spectrum solar photovoltaic module that can absorb both visible and invisible light from the sun. Theoretically, the conversion efficiency can be as high as 42%, which is more than the theoretical conversion rate of existing ordinary solar photovoltaic modules by 31%. The solar photovoltaic module consists of two absorption layers: one is modulated to capture visible light emitted by the sunshine; the other captures the invisible light.

"By embedding the narrow-band-gap quantum well into the wide-band gap material, the quantum well structure enables the solar photovoltaic modules to absorb a wider spectrum of energy while absorbing fewer high-energy photons." According to Dr. Ashokk. Sood, MagnoliaSolar's chairman and CHIEF executive officer, "the theoretical conversion efficiency of single-knot quantum well solar photovoltaic modules in non-concentrated light is as high as 45%."

5. Flexible Amorphous Silicon Solar Photovoltaic Modules

A company has developed a flexible solar module with improved optical design. The conversion rate of this solar photovoltaic module in outdoor sunlight has increased from the current 4.5% to 7%. TDK plans to mass-produce this solar photovoltaic module through its factory in Kampu this summer (2011). The solar modules are reportedly made from thin-film - based amorphous silicon solar photovoltaic modules. This can effectively improve the efficiency of solar panel system operation.

6. Mitsubishi Chemical Curtain Clothing Making Solar Module

In the field of "organic thin film solar cell", which is expected to become a "new generation solar cell", Mitsubishi Chemical has achieved the highest energy conversion efficiency of 9.2% in the world. Its organic thin film solar photovoltaic modules can be produced efficiently by printing technology.

Organic solar modules are solar photovoltaic modules made of carbon and other organic materials. At present, it can be roughly divided into "pigment sensitized solar photovoltaic modules" and "organic thin film solar modules". Mitsubishi Chemical Research and development is the latter.

7. A New Solar Photovoltaic Module Developed by Xiamen University

Kang Junyong, a professor at the School of Physics and Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xiamen University, has successfully developed a solar photovoltaic module to greatly stabilize its performance and extend its time-using. It is reported that this is the first time in the world to achieve broadband gap semiconductor in the application of solar photovoltaic modules.

8. Flexible Solar Module

Kapton polyimide film is 100 times thinner and 200 times lighter than that of conventional photovoltaic glass. Therefore, it has a congenital advantage to transition to CdTe system based on flexible film instead of rigid glass. High speed but low-cost roll to roll deposition technologies can be used for high-throughput flexible solar cells, using polymer film as substrate. The new polyimide film is of great significance. Potentially, it can bring lighter and thinner flexible photovoltaic modules, which are easier to handle and can be installed at lower cost, making it ideal for some applications, including building integrated photovoltaic applications.

9. SONY Dye-sensitized Solar Photovoltaic Module

Dye-sensitized solar photovoltaic modules are mainly made of dye molecules instead of silicon, and the light energy absorbed by dye molecules is converted into electric energy. Simple processes such as coating printing can be used in production, which have slight impact on the environment. It is easy to achieve a variety of designs and color changes. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the dye sensitive solar photovoltaic module test machine developed by Sony is the highest in the world (up to 9.9%).

10. Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation of a New Generation of Solar Photovoltaic Module

CIGS batteries are made from cheap glass, plastic and metal foils coated with a 1/200mm multilateralism film. It can generate electricity on cloudy days and under scattered light and is suitable for high-rise urban environments, 98% thinner than conventional single-crystal solar panels and costs half as much. Known as "the next generation of highly promising new thin-film solar photovoltaic modules", it is not only suitable for building roofs and external walls to generate electricity, but also can be implanted into personal items such as handbags and backpacks to charge electronic products in real time. The module is not only suitable for building roof and external wall power generation but also can be implanted into personal items such as handbags and backpacks to charge electronic products in real time, even as a power source for aerospace and military electronic equipment.

11. Solar Photovoltaic Modules with Light Collection Developed by Japan and Europe

Japan and the European Union (EU) will work together to develop solar photovoltaic modules with unit conversion efficiency of more than 45%, NEDO announced. The specific R & D projects aimed at achieving more than 45% cell conversion efficiency include: the development of new materials and structures, the evaluation of units and modules, and the standardization activities related to the measurement technology of solar photovoltaic modules.

12. A Novel and Highly Efficient Solar Photovoltaic Module Made of Graphene

The electron mobility of graphene is 100 times that of silicon. It has excellent strength and transparency, and 97.7% of light can be transmitted, making it an ideal electrode material. The extremely high electron mobility gives graphene the ideal conditions. Electrons travel about 100 times faster than graphene. Compared with silicon, the strength is significant. In fact, it is almost transparent (2.3% of the light is absorbed; 97.7% of the light can be transmitted), which makes it an ideal candidate in the photovoltaic field. Ultra-thin transparent graphene film can replace metal oxide electrode