PRIDE

Photovoltaic Facades of Reduced Costs Incorporating Devices with Optically Concentrating Elements. “PRIDE” A cost shared collaborative R&D Contract between BP Solar, University of Ulster, University of Patras,and TFM. (Sub contractor : ISET) funded by DG XII of the European Commission under contract JOR3 CT Enerbuild Number 22 Co-ordinator: Dr T M Bruton BP Solar Presenter : Dr MH Patterson BP Solar

PRIDE Objectives  To develop a PV module for building Integration incorporating a CPC concentrator to give 2x non tracked concentration  To lower the module cost by 40%  To give a similar kWhr /m2 generation as a conventional flat plat module

PRIDE - JOULE Project  Truncated CPC to give 2.5X without tracking Glass CPC Solar Cell Back plate

Solar Cell performance decreasing with narrower cells

Concentration increases cell efficiency

Costs (Euro) Standard module CPC -1CPC -2CPC-3CPC x; 18€/12.5x; 18 € /l2.0x; 9 € /l2.5x; 9 € /l Cell Cost CPC Glass & Encapsulati on 81 Total Power (Wp) Module (Euro/Wp) Cost Evaluation showing only cost reduction in favourable scenario 23%

Prototype PRIDE Module

3mm CPC showing delamination and bending

DayMonthPRIDE Pmax (Wp) Pride Temp (°C) BP 580 Pmax (Wp) BP 580 Temp (°C) Insolation (W/m 2 ) 179Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Results from vertical array at ISET for 3 mm PRIDE Cells versus a flat plate module

Deliverables > Demonstration of LGBG cells capable of efficiencies over 16.5% at 2.5 x > Fabrication of a CPC with solar cells giving an optical performance of better than 2x concentration. > Testing of functional facade elements in Greece and Germany.  Estimate of the production cost of the CPC module at 5 MWp per year manufacture.

Conclusions > fundamental innovation in the project was clearly demonstrated > suitable for incorporation into building facades with an estimated cost saving of up to 0.8Euro/Wp > technological issues remain > acrylic resins appear incompatible with the solar cells in extended thermal cycling and a better material must be found.  The method of heat sinking the cells to the rear surface of the module has to be further developed. > Because of the limited optical performance of the 3mm cell CPC prototype, the expected enhanced light collection of the CPC design was not demonstrated.