Photovoltaics

Subject description

Solar energy and review of conversion concepts to electrical energy.

Solar cells: principles of operation, structures, materials and technologies, properties of crystalline silicon and gallium arsenide cells, thin-film (silicon, chalcopyrite, cadmium telluride), mesoscopic and organic solar cells; tandem and multijunction solar cells; thermophotovoltaic cells; analysis of optical and electrical losses, modeling, simulations and characterization; advanced concepts and technological trends.

Photovoltaic modules: properties and performance, technology trends of crystalline silicon and GaAs, thin-film and concentrating PV modules. Performance and loss analysis, energy yield, testing, certification and standards, reliability and lifetime. Modeling, simulation and characterization.

Photovoltaic systems: grid-connected and stand-alone PV systems; design and planning, operation and maintenance; power regulators and inverters, protection elements; energy storage concepts; reliability and maintainability; grid-connection, economics of PV systems.

The subject is taught in programs

Objectives and competences

an overview knowledge on contemporary devices, technologies and trends in photovoltaics (PV)
upgrade of knowledge on operational principles of PV devices
ability of further research work in the field

Teaching and learning methods

lectures: in case of less than 7 students attending the course only an introductory lecture is given (in one or two days). In the case of more than 6 students extended lectures are provided
consultations (mostly in the frame of seminar work)
individual work and seminar work: from a specific field of photovoltaics, defined based on agreement between lecturer and student, seminar work is then presented and defended

Expected study results

preknowledge for further research and development in PV science and engineering
understanding of operational principle and usage of photovoltaics devices
specific research work in a selected topic from photovoltaics (seminar work)

Basic sources and literature

[1]A. Luque, S. Fonash: Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, 2nd Ed, Wiley, 2011.

[2] M.A.Green: Third Generation Photovoltaics: Advanced Solar Energy Conversion, Springer, 2005.

[3] R. A. Messenger and J. Ventre, Photovoltaic Systems Engineering, 3rd Ed., CRC Press (2010)

[4] A. Luque and V. M. Andreev: Concentrator Photovoltaics. Springer, 2007.

[5] Janez KRČ, Marko TOPIČ. Optical modeling and simulation of thin-film photovoltaic devices. CRC Press, 2013. XIII, 258 str. ISBN 978-1-4398-1849-7 [COBISS.SI-ID 9762644].