Open AccessSolar Power Generation Development
Author(s) -
Robert L. Johnson,
G.E. Carver
Publication year - 2011
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/1047740
Subject(s) - photovoltaic system , cost of electricity by source , process engineering , key (lock) , computer science , cost effectiveness , environmental science , systems engineering , power (physics) , electricity generation , electrical engineering , engineering , operations management , operating system , physics , quantum mechanics
This project centered on creating a solar cell prototype enabling significant reductions in module cost and increases in module efficiency. Low cost was addressed by using plentiful organic materials that only comprise 16% of the total module cost, and by leveraging building integrated PV concepts that reduce the cost of key module components to zero. High efficiency was addressed by implementing multiband organic PV, low cost spectral splitting, and possibly integrating photovoltaic and photothermal mechanisms. This research has contributed to the design of multiband organic PV, and the sealing of organic PV cells. If one assumes that the aggregate multiband efficiency can reach 12%, projected cost would be $0.97/W. If the sealing technology enables 10 to 20 year lifetimes, the LCOE will match that of domestic coal. The final report describes progress towards these goals