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| Fri, 12th Jun 2020 16:15:00 |
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Semi-transparent mini BIPV panels for solar windows |
European scientists have developed mini modules with an active area of 14 cm² and a 3.68% efficiency rating. The panels also have a self-adjusting feature that can help to mitigate the amount of light when they are exposed to full sunlight, or to the temperatures of buildings with large windows and/or glass facades.
Researchers from the Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble (IRIG), a branch of France's Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA) – in collaboration with the University Pablo de Olavide in Spain and Swiss start-up Solaronix – have designed 3.68%-efficient solar panels in variable colors. They claim the panels can dynamically self-adjust their optical transmittance according to sunlight intensity.
The mini panels offer power output 32.5 milliwatts after coloration and are based on five 4.17%-efficient rectangular-shaped solar cells, interconnected in series using a W-type design, covering 61% of the total module area. In the W-type architecture, the inter-distance between cells can be smaller due to the absence of vertical interconnects.
"We choose W-type design because it is easier to fabricate," research author, Renaud Demadrille, told pv magazine. Despite a relatively small active area of just 14 cm², the panels' power output is considered sufficient to operate low-consumption electronic devices and sensors.
In the cells, the scientists replaced the commonly used organic dyes with photochromic dyes based on diphenyl-naphthopyran. These dyes are uncolored in the dark and can become colorful when exposed to light.
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