Grant: Strategic Projects - Group
University of Ottawa
$254,485.00
ASPIRE: Arctic solar photovoltaics: innovation for renewable energy
EF 2018-19
Résumé
Solar photovoltaic energy technology is globally established and effective, especially in high solar resource regions, largely in fixed-tilt monofacial silicon photovoltaic panel installations. Outside these regions commercial adoption rates decline following the available solar resource. However, there is a case for photovoltaics in the Arctic: (1) the solar resource is similar to lower latitudes due to very long summer days; (2) silicon photovoltaics are more efficient in cooler temperatures; and (3) displacement of diesel fuel is an economic and environmental advantage. A disruptive technology ecosystem receiving much attention is silicon bifacial photovoltaic panels. Bifacial panels receive sunlight on both front and rear faces, but are only slightly more expensive than monofacial panels. These panels can harvest energy arriving direct from the sun, and from the sky and from cloud edges and from nearby building facades or bright snow-covered ground. Adding dual-axis trackers means the panels can be pointed continuously into the best orientation to generate maximum solar power, around the entire horizon. *Conventional silicon solar cells are nearing their practicable performance limit, ~17-18%. Novel advanced bifacial silicon cells using pyramidal surface texturing and amorphous|crystalline heterojunctions hold good promise for efficiencies beyond 21% and will be designed, fabricated, and field tested on trackers. Comprehensive numerical models for design support and system yield forecasting will be established. The goal of ASPIRE is to double the yield of fixed-tilt monofacial in the Arctic using advanced tracked bifacial cells. *This proposal is based on long-standing collaborations among Dr. Karin Hinzer, Dr. Henry Schriemer, and Dr. Joan Haysom of the uOttawa SUNLAB; Dr. Mariana Bertoni of Arizona State University; and Dr. Michael Ross of Yukon College. The project will partner with the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), Morgan Solar Inc. (trackers) and Spectrafy Inc. (metrology).*
Programme
Strategic Projects - Group
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
521894-2018
Name nom
Hinzer, Karin
Department département
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science , School of
Organization id
28
Institution établissement
University of Ottawa
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2018
Competition year année de concours
2018
Award amount
254485
Program id
STPGP
Program name en
Strategic Projects - Group
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques - De groupe
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1590
Committee name en
Strategic Projects - Natural Resources and Energy
Committee name fr
Projets stratégiques - Ressources naturelles et énergie
Area of application code
303
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Alternative energy resources
Area of application fr
Autres ressources d'énergie
Research subject code
2523
Research subject group en
Electrical and electronic engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie électrique et électronique
Research subject en
Semiconductor fabrication and packaging
Research subject fr
Fabrication et mise sous enveloppe de semi-conducteurs
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
ASPIRE: Arctic solar photovoltaics: innovation for renewable energy
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Solar photovoltaic energy technology is globally established and effective, especially in high solar resource regions, largely in fixed-tilt monofacial silicon photovoltaic panel installations. Outside these regions commercial adoption rates decline following the available solar resource. However, there is a case for photovoltaics in the Arctic: (1) the solar resource is similar to lower latitudes due to very long summer days; (2) silicon photovoltaics are more efficient in cooler temperatures; and (3) displacement of diesel fuel is an economic and environmental advantage. A disruptive technology ecosystem receiving much attention is silicon bifacial photovoltaic panels. Bifacial panels receive sunlight on both front and rear faces, but are only slightly more expensive than monofacial panels. These panels can harvest energy arriving direct from the sun, and from the sky and from cloud edges and from nearby building facades or bright snow-covered ground. Adding dual-axis trackers means the panels can be pointed continuously into the best orientation to generate maximum solar power, around the entire horizon. *Conventional silicon solar cells are nearing their practicable performance limit, ~17-18%. Novel advanced bifacial silicon cells using pyramidal surface texturing and amorphous|crystalline heterojunctions hold good promise for efficiencies beyond 21% and will be designed, fabricated, and field tested on trackers. Comprehensive numerical models for design support and system yield forecasting will be established. The goal of ASPIRE is to double the yield of fixed-tilt monofacial in the Arctic using advanced tracked bifacial cells. *This proposal is based on long-standing collaborations among Dr. Karin Hinzer, Dr. Henry Schriemer, and Dr. Joan Haysom of the uOttawa SUNLAB; Dr. Mariana Bertoni of Arizona State University; and Dr. Michael Ross of Yukon College. The project will partner with the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), Morgan Solar Inc. (trackers) and Spectrafy Inc. (metrology).*
