PRIDE

Photovoltaic Facades of Reduced Costs Incorporating Devices with Optically Concentrating Elements . “PRIDE”

A cost shared collaborative R&D Contract between BP Solar, University of Ulster, University of

Patras,and TFM. (Sub contractor : ISET)

funded by DG XII of the European Commission under contract JOR3 CT97 0128

Enerbuild Number 22

Co-ordinator: Dr T M Bruton BP SolarPresenter : Dr MH Patterson BP Solar

PRIDEObjectives

>To develop a PV module for building Integration incorporating a CPC concentrator to give 2x non tracked concentration

>To lower the module cost by 40%

>To give a similar kWhr /m2 generation as a conventional flat plat module

PRIDE - JOULE Project

>Truncated CPC to give 2.5X without tracking

Glass

CPC

Solar Cell

Back plate

1mm groove spacing

0,75

0,76

0,77

0,78

0,79

0,8

C12 C16 C18 C19cell number

Fill F

acto

r

50 mm

9.25mm

3mm

0.5mm groove seperation

0,76

0,77

0,78

0,79

0,8

0,81

C1 C5 C8 C9cell number

Fill F

acto

r50 mm

9.25mm

3mm

1mm groove spacing

596

598

600

602

604

606

608

610

C12 C16 C18 C19

cell number

Vo

c (

mV

)

50mm

9.25mm

3mm

3mm max

0.5mm groove spacing

594

596

598

600

602

604

606

608

C1 C5 C8 C9

cell number

Vo

c(m

V)

50 mm

9.25mm

3mm

3mm max

Solar Cell performance decreasing with narrower cells

Efficiency vs Concentration

14

14,5

15

15,5

16

16,5

17

1 2 3

Concentration (Suns)

Eff

icie

ncy

(%)

14.5_1

14.5_4

15_3

15_4

15.5_3

15.5_4

16_8

16_10

16_3

16_5

Concentration increases cell efficiency

Costs (Euro)

Standard module

CPC -1 CPC -2 CPC-3 CPC -4

    2.0 x; 18€/1

2.5x; 18 € /l

2.0x; 9 € /l 2.5x; 9 € /l

Cell Cost 200.52 94.7 94.7 94.7 94.7

CPC 0 126 126 63 63

Glass & Encapsulation

81 81 81 81 81

Total Power (Wp)

85 77.2 92.6 77.2 92.6

Module (Euro/Wp)

3.31 3.91 3.09 3.25 2.58

Cost Evaluation showing only cost reduction in favourable scenario 23%

Prototype PRIDE Module

3mm CPC showing delamination and bending

Day Month PRIDE Pmax (Wp)

Pride Temp (°C)

BP 580Pmax (Wp)

BP 580Temp(°C)

Insolation (W/m2)

179 Jun 5.94 32.3 42.7 19.6 627.7

185 Jul 4.69 50.4 31.7 29.1  

235 Aug 5.4 37.3 42.2 20.5 621.3

267 Sept 5.1 49.2 44.4 21.7 638.3

274 Oct 6.3 33.6 54.8 16.1 655.5

305 Nov 5.3 28.3 43.7 14.2 582.6

336 Dec 5.4 18.1 48.5 6.0 629.1

Results from vertical array at ISET for 3 mm PRIDECells versus a flat plate module

Deliverables

>Demonstration of LGBG cells capable of efficiencies over 16.5% at 2.5 x

>Fabrication of a CPC with solar cells giving an optical performance of better than 2x concentration.

>Testing of functional facade elements in Greece and Germany.

>Estimate of the production cost of the CPC module at 5 MWp per year manufacture.

Conclusions

> fundamental innovation in the project was clearly demonstrated

> suitable for incorporation into building facades with an estimated cost saving of up to 0.8Euro/Wp

> technological issues remain > acrylic resins appear incompatible with the solar cells in

extended thermal cycling and a better material must be found.

>The method of heat sinking the cells to the rear surface of the module has to be further developed.

> Because of the limited optical performance of the 3mm cell CPC prototype, the expected enhanced light collection of the CPC design was not demonstrated.