Solar Energy

   CONTENTS  

The challenge of achieving higher efficiency at a lower cost

The ongoing research at the Solar Energy Technology Nucleus (NT-Solar) addresses a more complex path aiming at excellence. After succeeding in a project about the production (pilot scale) and characterization, of silicon solar cells and photovoltaic modules, physicists Professor Adriano Moehlecke and Professor Izete Zanesco, together with technicians and grant-holding students, met the challenge posed by studies aimed at increasing the efficiency of the developed products.

Supported by the funding agency Finep, the research on n-type silicon solar cells, which suffer less degradation upon exposure to solar energy, achieved its initial results, and an efficiency of 16% was attained. In addition to the manufacturing of photovoltaic cells and modules, an analysis of economic viability was performed aimed at industrial scale. Advanced techniques to increase the cells’ efficiency are currently being assessed.

Based on the results obtained at the pilot plant, industrial solar cells manufacturing processes that are more advantageous from the market financial perspective are being investigated. Such studies are supported by the public company Eletrosul. In a similar direction, and supported by the Electric Energy State Company (CEEE), an additional line of research focuses on the development of thinner solar cells with 0.14-mm thick wafers. Other studies aim to increase the efficiency of solar cells (with less doped emitters), and to develop laser-fired rear contact solar cells and bifacial solar cells (that can convert the solar radiation falling on both sides). The team study also techniques to improve the quality of the silicon wafers during the processing of solar cells

The doctoral and master’s dissertations supervised by the professors focus on the development of solar cells, photovoltaics modules.

Between 2010 and 2011, a photovoltaic system was fully implanted at the PUCRS Museum of Sciences and Technology, which was connected to the power network to allow for a public and permanent exhibition of this technology. Patenting these techniques and licensing them for commercial exploitation may represent the next achievements.

NT-Solar established partnerships with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, USA) and the University of the Basque Country (Spain) in addition to technical collaborations with Brazilian governmental agencies.