Bifacial Solar Technology: A Multi-Scale Study from Design Of Solar Cells to Performance Evaluation of Photovoltaics In-Field

Abstract

Bifacial photovoltaic (PV) is a promising solar energy technology that can harvest light from both the front and rear sides of solar cells to produce additional energy yield than monofacial PV. It has been one of the most active themes of research in recent years in the field of solar energy. The inherent capability to improve the energy yield, thereby decreasing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), has prompted the focus of researchers and industries around the globe to further its advancement. Integration of these panels into the power grid can offer many benefits including improved energy output, power continuity, and low LCOE. However, accurate performance assessment of bifacial PV is challenging due to the complex physical processes occurring at multiple time and length scales (multi-scale), and variable environmental parameters affecting the electrical and thermal performance at the system level (multi-physics). To fully understand the behavior of bifacial solar panels and approach theoretical limits, it is essential that processes are modeled from cell-to-module-to-field by incorporating the losses in between. Considering the need, the global aim of this work is to develop and conduct a comprehensive multi-scale study for the cell to module to field performance. A multi-scale and multi-physics framework is employed to reduce the efficiency gap by identifying improvement areas at each stage in the PV chain, i.e., from cell development to PV deployment in the field. Using experiments and simulations, the proposed approach will provide us an insight into both the macroscopic device behavior and module characteristics for energy efficient PV system design and accurate assessment of LCOE.

Date of Award	2019
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Science and Engineering