Energy Yield Limits for Single-Junction Solar Cells Ian Marius Peters, Tonio Buonassisi Joule Volume 2, Issue 6, Pages 1160-1170 (June 2018) DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2018.03.009 Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions
Joule 2018 2, 1160-1170DOI: (10.1016/j.joule.2018.03.009) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions
Figure 1 Global Harvesting Efficiency Limits and Corresponding Band-Gap (A and B) Calculated radiative harvesting efficiency limit ηh,max (A) and band-gap for which this limit is achieved, Eg,max (B). The STC efficiency limit (33.3%) and band-gap (1.34 eV) calculated with the same procedure are indicated. (C and D) Area-weighted histograms of the occurring efficiency, ηh,max (C) and band-gap, Eg,max (D) values. Joule 2018 2, 1160-1170DOI: (10.1016/j.joule.2018.03.009) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions
Figure 2 Statistical Properties of Global Harvesting Efficiencies (A) Area-weighted histogram of harvesting efficiency values for the five investigated materials. Also shown are the median efficiency values and the range between the upper and lower 15th percentile (highlighted gray). (B) Comparison of harvesting efficiencies and STC efficiencies as a function of band-gap. The lower part shows the difference ηSTC−ηh. A linear fit is indicated. (C) The spread of efficiency values as a function of band-gap for different ranges. The middle curve corresponds to the highlighted area in (A). The upper curve is the range between the upper and lower 10th percentile. The lower curve is the range between the upper and lower 30th percentile. Gray lines are guides to the eye. Joule 2018 2, 1160-1170DOI: (10.1016/j.joule.2018.03.009) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions
Figure 3 Global Energy Yield Limits (A) Energy yield in kWh/m2 for 2015 with a material having the ideal band-gap in each location (compare Figure 1B). (B–F) Energy yields for the five considered materials. These five graphs are shown with two axes corresponding to the radiative limit (right) and a projection to record solar cell efficiencies (left, color); see Table 1 for reference. (B) 1.01 eV (CIS). (C) 1.12 eV (Si). (D) 1.43 eV (GaAs). (E) 1.54 eV (CdTe). (F) 1.64 eV (perovskite). The data shown in this figure are available in Data S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6. Joule 2018 2, 1160-1170DOI: (10.1016/j.joule.2018.03.009) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions
Figure 4 Harvesting Efficiencies and Climate Zones (A and B) Illustrative comparison between distribution of harvesting efficiencies limit ηh,max (A) and Köppen-Geiger climate zones (B). The sequence of climate zones was altered from standard illustration to provide a more obvious comparison with harvesting efficiencies. A-type and B-type climates were switched. Joule 2018 2, 1160-1170DOI: (10.1016/j.joule.2018.03.009) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions
Figure 5 Global PV Growth Potential and Climate (A and B) Absolute growth (A) and relative growth (B) of installed PV capacities projected by SolarPower Europe for the period between 2017 and 2021. The lines roughly sketch the border between regions with tropical or arid climates and regions with cold or temperate climates (compare Figure 4). Joule 2018 2, 1160-1170DOI: (10.1016/j.joule.2018.03.009) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions