- Email: [email protected]
Princeton unveils potential of cheaper organic PVs
ISSN 1473-8325
CONTENTS
Princeton unveils potential of cheaper organic PVs Electrical engineers at Princeton University in New Jersey have invented a technique for making solar cells that, when combined with other recent advances, could yield a highly economical source of energy. Professor Stephen Forrest and his colleagues have developed organic-compound-based devices with efficiencies of more than 3%. The most recent advance involves a new method for forming the organic film, which increases the efficiency by 50%. The research group is now planning to combine the new materials and techniques with the aim of reaching an efficiency of 5%, which would make the technology attractive to commercial manufacturers. The results, reported in the 11 September issue of Nature, move scientists closer to making a new class of solar cells that are not as efficient as conventional ones, but could be less costly and more versatile. The new PVs are made from ultra-thin and flexible organic materials, but could potentially be applied to large surfaces.
‘Organic solar cells could be manufactured in a process something like printing or spraying the materials onto a roll of plastic,’ says Peter Peumans, a graduate student in the optoelectronic components and materials research group. ‘In the end, you would have a sheet of solar cells that you just unroll and put on a roof.’ Peumans and Forrest co-wrote the paper in collaboration with Soichi Uchida, a researcher visiting Princeton from Nippon Oil Company in Japan. The research was supported by grants from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Global Photonic Energy Corporation. For more information on the Optoelectronic Components & Materials research group, go to: www.ee.princeton.edu/~ocmweb
BIPV integrated with water, energy conservation In Australia, a major new PV panel project has been launched to provide power to the Kogarah Town Square Development in Sydney. The Howard Government has given Kogarah Council A$1.6 million (US$1.1 million) from its Renewable Energy Commercialization Program to install building-integrated PV (BIPV) on the roof of its Town Square development. This forms a key part of a range of water and energy conservation measures throughout the building. The building includes a water recycling system that regulates discharges into the stormwater system to reduce pollution entering the Cooks River and Botany Bay. Conservation measures featured in the development include waterefficient toilets, shower heads, flow restrictors and aerating taps, and the use of passive solar
design and energy-efficient lighting and appliances. These were funded under the Howard Government’s Living Cities Program, which has been investing almost A$1 billion ($680 million) to tackle climate change. The BIPV system is now fully operational on the building, which incorporates residential apartments, commercial and council-owned buildings. In total, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 300 tonnes per year, and deliver a 42% saving in water usage. For more information on the Kogarah Town Square Development, go to: www.kogarah.nsw.gov.au/site/AchieveWebpage/ kogarah_townsquare_redevelopment.htm
October 2003
NEWS Princeton unveils potential of cheaper organic PVs
1
BIPV integrated with water, energy conservation
1
Airport spends $500 000 on PV panels
2
Tucson adds First Solar modules at Springerville
2
Asyntis supplies German PV maker, raises funds
2
BP Solar improves 50 W module for remote systems
2
Origin is greenest in Australia
3
PV augments wireless surveillance
3
DOE investment promotes crosscutting as key to energy R&D
4
Solarlok eases PV module production
4
Woods Hole becomes net renewables exporter
4
PV solar chargers plus for consumers
4
PV program increases solar rebates
5
MicroFab wins NSF award for organic PV
5
World’s largest single PV module production plant opens in Nagano
5
New Jersey dealer network for RWE Schott Solar
5
Spire Florida formed to exploit PV opportunities
5
EPRI targets renewables for interconnection device
6
SSPC PV reseller deal with Shell Solar
6
SunWize National Park Service PV system
6
PV powered bus shelters for the UK
6
FEATURES SiGe: a key to unlocking the potential of solar cells
7
REGULARS In Brief
3
Research Trends
9
Patents
12
Events Calendar
15
Comment
16
ISSN 1473-8325/03 © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
CONTENTS
Princeton unveils potential of cheaper organic PVs Electrical engineers at Princeton University in New Jersey have invented a technique for making solar cells that, when combined with other recent advances, could yield a highly economical source of energy. Professor Stephen Forrest and his colleagues have developed organic-compound-based devices with efficiencies of more than 3%. The most recent advance involves a new method for forming the organic film, which increases the efficiency by 50%. The research group is now planning to combine the new materials and techniques with the aim of reaching an efficiency of 5%, which would make the technology attractive to commercial manufacturers. The results, reported in the 11 September issue of Nature, move scientists closer to making a new class of solar cells that are not as efficient as conventional ones, but could be less costly and more versatile. The new PVs are made from ultra-thin and flexible organic materials, but could potentially be applied to large surfaces.
‘Organic solar cells could be manufactured in a process something like printing or spraying the materials onto a roll of plastic,’ says Peter Peumans, a graduate student in the optoelectronic components and materials research group. ‘In the end, you would have a sheet of solar cells that you just unroll and put on a roof.’ Peumans and Forrest co-wrote the paper in collaboration with Soichi Uchida, a researcher visiting Princeton from Nippon Oil Company in Japan. The research was supported by grants from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Global Photonic Energy Corporation. For more information on the Optoelectronic Components & Materials research group, go to: www.ee.princeton.edu/~ocmweb
BIPV integrated with water, energy conservation In Australia, a major new PV panel project has been launched to provide power to the Kogarah Town Square Development in Sydney. The Howard Government has given Kogarah Council A$1.6 million (US$1.1 million) from its Renewable Energy Commercialization Program to install building-integrated PV (BIPV) on the roof of its Town Square development. This forms a key part of a range of water and energy conservation measures throughout the building. The building includes a water recycling system that regulates discharges into the stormwater system to reduce pollution entering the Cooks River and Botany Bay. Conservation measures featured in the development include waterefficient toilets, shower heads, flow restrictors and aerating taps, and the use of passive solar
design and energy-efficient lighting and appliances. These were funded under the Howard Government’s Living Cities Program, which has been investing almost A$1 billion ($680 million) to tackle climate change. The BIPV system is now fully operational on the building, which incorporates residential apartments, commercial and council-owned buildings. In total, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 300 tonnes per year, and deliver a 42% saving in water usage. For more information on the Kogarah Town Square Development, go to: www.kogarah.nsw.gov.au/site/AchieveWebpage/ kogarah_townsquare_redevelopment.htm
October 2003
NEWS Princeton unveils potential of cheaper organic PVs
1
BIPV integrated with water, energy conservation
1
Airport spends $500 000 on PV panels
2
Tucson adds First Solar modules at Springerville
2
Asyntis supplies German PV maker, raises funds
2
BP Solar improves 50 W module for remote systems
2
Origin is greenest in Australia
3
PV augments wireless surveillance
3
DOE investment promotes crosscutting as key to energy R&D
4
Solarlok eases PV module production
4
Woods Hole becomes net renewables exporter
4
PV solar chargers plus for consumers
4
PV program increases solar rebates
5
MicroFab wins NSF award for organic PV
5
World’s largest single PV module production plant opens in Nagano
5
New Jersey dealer network for RWE Schott Solar
5
Spire Florida formed to exploit PV opportunities
5
EPRI targets renewables for interconnection device
6
SSPC PV reseller deal with Shell Solar
6
SunWize National Park Service PV system
6
PV powered bus shelters for the UK
6
FEATURES SiGe: a key to unlocking the potential of solar cells
7
REGULARS In Brief
3
Research Trends
9
Patents
12
Events Calendar
15
Comment
16
ISSN 1473-8325/03 © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.