'Next generation' always needs to also take into account the impact that the materials used might have in the future. Organic thin-film solar generators can be an answer – especially if they continue to close the efficiency gap:
This is the highest efficiency value ever reported for an organic photovoltaic module. It was confirmed by a certified calibrated measurement under standard testing conditions by the independent certification laboratory of Fraunhofer ISE (Freiburg) in September 2019. The multi-cell module was developed at the Solar Factory of the Future at the Energie Campus Nürnberg (EnCN) in a coating laboratory with a unique megawatt pilot line for thin-film photovoltaics, which was designed and implemented with financial support by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Directly applied onto a carrier film or glass carrier
“This breakthrough shows that Bavaria is not only a leader in the advancement of photovoltaic installations, but also occupies a leading position in the development of future technologies,” emphasises Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.
Organic solar cells usually consist of two different organic components, possessing the necessary semiconductor properties. In contrast to conventionally used silicon, which is manufactured by energy-intensive melting processes, organic materials can be applied directly from solutions onto a carrier film or glass carrier.
New applications as mobile decives or clothings
On the one hand, this reduces manufacturing costs, on the other hand, the use of flexible, lightweight materials allows for new applications, such as mobile devices or clothing, even if the efficiency is not yet comparable to that of traditional silicon solar cells.
“This milestone in organic semiconductor research shows that the latest performance developments with certified cell efficiencies of over 16 percent are not limited to the laboratory scale, but ready to be scaled up to the level of prototype modules,” explains Prof. Christoph Brabec from Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), director at Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN),, and scientific director of the Solar Factory of the Future, a research group of the Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research (ZAE).
Twelve serially connected cells
Due to their design, the efficiency of complete photovoltaic modules is always slightly lower than that of individual cells. A part of the module area, for example, is always inactive since it is used for the interconnection of the individual cells. With an increasing module area, the losses caused by the electrodes’ electrical resistance increase as well.
Technical data:
Module area: 26.129 cm² (+/− 0.026 cm2)
Power conversion efficiency (PCE): 12.60 % +/− 0.19 %)
Open-circuit voltage (Voc): 9.978 V (+/− 0.04 V)
Short-circuit current (Isc): 46.43 mA +/− 0.65 mA)
Fill factor (FF): 71.06 % +/− 0.38 %)
Interconnection: series of 12 cells
Geometric fill factor (GFF): 95.5 %
PCE with respect to the active area of the module: 13.2 %
Twelve serially connected cells
The record module consists of twelve serially connected cells and has a geometric fill factor of over 95 percent. This part of the module area actively contributes to the power generation. With respect to its active area, the module even achieves an efficiency of 13.2 percent. The minimisation of inactive areas was achieved through high-resolution laser structuring, as developed and optimised in recent years at the “Solar Factory of the Future”. (HCN)
Here, in case you missed them, are Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this week's series.
