Photovoltaic Research Centers

"Welcome to Sandia National Laboratories Photovoltaics Program . Sandia's Photovoltaics Program seeks to These goals can be achieved through focused research and systems development integrated with the needs of manufacturers and users of systems and components. "

The National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) has developed the following mission: To mobilize national [U.S.] resources in photovoltaics by performing world-class research and development, promoting partnering and growth opportunities, and serving as a forum and information source for the photovoltaics community. In completing this mission, the NCPV will become a world leader in bringing photovoltaics to its full potential as a global energy source.

"The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) PV Manufacturing Research and Development Project is managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with support from Sandia National Laboratories. The Project team has worked for more than a decade in partnership with the U.S. PV industry to reduce manufacturing costs while significantly scaling up production capacity. Over this period, the PV Manufacturing R&D Project has issued several solicitations for partnerships that have resulted in more than 50 cost-shared R&D subcontracts addressing the cost and capacity goals of the Project."

The UO SRML is a regional solar radiation data center, whose goal is to provide sound solar resource data for planning, design, deployment, and operation of solar electric facilities in the Pacific Northwest. Creating the long-term solar radiation data base necessary to achieve this goal requires persistence, maintenance of high standards, and an effort to educate people on the importance of a solar radiation database and how to use the database.

" Nanosolar is a global leader in solar power innovation. We are setting the standard for affordable green power with solar cell technology of distinctly superior cost efficiency, versatility, and availability.

Our mission is very simple: A Solar Panel on Every Building -- so that buildings everywhere will be hybrid energy buildings, synergistically switching between clean locally-produced solar energy (used during peak-time electricity usage hours just when electricity is the most valuable) and grid-delivered backend power (delivered in the evening or whenever the solar resources are not available).

Leveraging recent science advances in nanostructured materials, Nanosolar has developed proprietary high-yield high-throughput thin-film process technology based on the economics of printing (non-vacuum / solution coating). For the first time, this makes it possible to simply print solar cells that are efficient and durable, and fundamentally change the cost efficiency and volume availability of solar electricity."

"The key to HPC Film is its ability to collect energy from all directions, over 360 degrees. Direct, diffuse, low angle and reflected energy is concentrated onto smaller, or fewer, solar cells, which lets HPC solar modules produce more kilowatt hours, through longer periods of the day and season, without expensive mechanical tracking systems.
360-degree collection enables HPC solar modules to operate close to peak efficiency in low light conditions. In the chart below, the yellow bars show the amount of light available annually in a typical, temperate region (Columbus, OH). Lower light levels are at the left, with full sun (a condition almost never reached) at the far right." more

"New Energy Technologies is developing the first-of-its kind SolarWindow^TM technology, which enables see-through windows to generate electricity by ‘spraying’ their glass surfaces with New Energy’s electricity-generating coatings – the subject of ten patent filings.

SolarWindow^TM generates clean electricity on see-through glass windows, by making use of the energy of natural sunlight and artificial sources such as fluorescent and LED lighting typically installed in offices, schools, and commercial buildings. Under an exclusive world-wide licensing agreement with the University of South Florida, covering 10 patent pending applications, together with a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy—National Renewable Energy Laboratory, we currently have six product development goals for our SolarWindow^TM technology:
- SolarWindow^TM- Commercial – A flat glass product for installation in new commercial towers under construction and replace-ment windows;
- SolarWindow^TM-Structural Glass – Structural glass walls and curtains for tall structures;
- SolarWindow^TM-Architectural Glass – Textured and decorative interior glass walls, room dividers, etc.
- SolarWindow^TM-Residential – A window glass for installation in new residential homes under construction and replacement win-dows;
- SolarWindow^TM-Flex – Flexible films which may be applied directly on to glass, similar to aftermarket window tint films, for retrofit to existing commercial towers, buildings, and residential homes; and
- SolarWindow^TM-BIPV - Building product components associated with building-integrated-photovoltaic (-BIPV II) applications in homes, buildings, and office towers."

Spectrolab
Cells
Spectrolab offers a range of Ga,InP/GaAs/Ge multijunction solar cells with efficiencies reaching 30%.

CICs (Solar Cell + Interconnects + Coverglass)
Spectrolab’s space solar cells can be purchased as assemblies complete with space-qualified coverglass to protect against cosmic radiation, a discrete silicon bypass diode to protect against shadow-induced reverse bias, and interconnects for welded or soldered connections between solar cells to create voltage-adding series “strings”.

Panels
The greatest share of Spectrolab’s product deliveries are fully assembled space solar panels. Based on a customer’s specifications for maximum area, operating temperature and voltage, and the mission environment and duration, Spectrolab engineers maximize performance for End of Life performance. The panel substrates onto which Spectrolab’s multijunction circuits are bonded and wired to terminations, are provided as customer-furnished equipment.

Arrays
Spectrolab provides solar panels for commercial, science, and military program solar arrays, for integration onto spacecraft by satellite prime contractors. more

" HelioVolt's FASST^TM technology produces high-performance solar thin-film with pioneering time and materials efficiencies. 10 to 100 times faster than current processes. 100 times thinner than traditional silicon. Factor in the flexibility of custom shapes and sizes. Plus easy adaptability to multiple construction materials ' glass, steel, metal, composites and some polymers. The result? Another industry revolution is born.
HelioVolt's FASST^TM technology produces high-performance solar thin-film with pioneering time and materials efficiencies. 10 to 100 times faster than current processes. 100 times thinner than traditional silicon. Factor in the flexibility of custom shapes and sizes. Plus easy adaptability to multiple construction materials ' glass, steel, metal, composites and some polymers. The result? Another industry revolution is born.
Rapid and revolutionary:

• Our patented solar 'printing' process is a high-speed, large-area method for manufacturing silicon-free thin-film photovoltaics for commercial-scale production. Many times faster than other thin-film technologies, the real advantage of FASST^TM is its unique ability to nano-engineer solar thin films.
• Flexible and customizable: HelioVolt can print directly onto multiple construction materials ' glass, steel, metal, composites and some polymers. Mindful of architectural aesthetics, our method enables customization in a range of shapes and sizes. The market opportunity: a new breed of seamlessly solarized building materials, architectural modules and building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products ' what we call PV 'power buildings. " more CIGS

"The mission of Optitune is to be a premier supplier of technologies and materials to industries that help sustain the planet through the more efficient use of energy. It achieve this through a number of strategies that are closely aligned with those of its customers.

Inserting its technology in the value chain at whatever point it brings the most beneficial effect to end users and to consumers. This includes both the provision of ready coated glass, and coating materials for glass used in the solar energy and touch panel display industries.

Developing a broad range of innovative technologies for diverse industries. These include hydrogenation, passivation and anti-reflective coating materials for solar cell production, and specialized coatings for touch panel displays.

Maintaining advanced research capability at strategic locations worldwide that are close to its customers and industry partners.

Working jointly with customers and research institutes to ensure that future needs are understood and that our research is aligned with its customers future plans.

Fundamental research is conducted by BraggOne Oy, a subsidiary of Optitune, in Oulu, Finland. Process development is carried out by Optitune International Pte. Ltd. in Singapore, in conjunction with SERIS, the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore. In addition, Optitune maintains offices in Hong Kong and the USA for customer service and support." more

"This website provides information and guidance for the photovoltaic community and interested public based on work funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Solar Technologies Program.

This center has been established at Brookhaven National Laboratory to provide focused environmental health safety information to the photovoltaic community. The Principal Investigator at Brookhaven National Laboratory is Vasilis M. Fthenakis." more

"The School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering is internationally recognised for its research in the area of photovoltaics, most of which is now conducted under the ARC Phovoltaics Centre of Excellence. It was also the first organisation internationally to offer undergraduate training in the area of Photovoltaics and Solar Energy, and since then has extended the educational programs offered to include postgraduate and research training opportunities.

The Centre holds the world record for the highest energy conversion efficiency for a silicon solar cell at 25.0%. Intellectual property developed by the Centre is being used by the world’s largest silicon photovoltaic manufacturing company. Four out of five of the world’s largest solar companies were either established or have senior managers (e.g., CTO) that are former researchers or alumni of the Centre of Excellence." more

"The Columbia EFRC is creating technology which will redefine photovoltaic efficiency in organic and hybrid systems through fundamental understanding and molecule-scale control of the key steps in the photovoltaic process.

The EFRC focuses its expertise in chemical synthesis, fabrication, manipulation, and characterization to systematically develop understanding of the primary photovoltaic processes in organic and hybrid materials. In addition, it seeks to develop and quantitatively investigate nanostructured materials with potential for extracting multiple electrical charges from a single absorption event, thus establishing a scientific basis for moving the efficiency of these solar cell devices well beyond the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit.

The Columbia EFRC is a collaboration between University of Texas (Prof. Xiaoyang Zhu), Purdue University (Prof. Ashraful Alam), and the Brookhaven National Laboratory.

The research program of the EFRC centers around five multi-site, multi-disciplinary, and interlocking research thrusts. Each thrust represents an integrated effort incorporating theory, materials, and measurement." more

"The Centre for Advanced Photovoltaic Devices and Systems (CAPDS) promotes cutting edge research and technology development in all aspects of photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion.

Located at the University of Waterloo (UW), right at the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle Area, the CAPDS is a 14000 sq.ft. research facility with dedicated infrastructure for PV research. The CAPDS, occupying the entire ground floor of UW's brand-new Energy Research Centre (ERC) building, supports synthesis of semiconductor base materials, nanotechnologies for PV, design and fabrication of advanced PV devices and modules, and testing and characterization of PV materials, devices and systems. Backed by state-of-the-art infrastructure and expertise, the multi-faceted research at the CAPDS spans the entire spectrum of PV technology, and makes it a unique facility that is capable of making a meaningful impact on the quest for rendering PV affordable as an energy alternative. The CAPDS initiative is funded by the Canadian Federal Government, the Ontario Provincial Government, Industry, and by the University of Waterloo. The CAPDS facility is all set to become fully operational in year 2010." more

"The Solar & Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center will become a leading institute in renewable energy science and engineering and will provide the foundation for innovation in efficient and low-cost disruptive solar cell and energy technologies.

The Center’s mission is to have a direct impact not only on the science and engineering discoveries in the area of renewable energy, but also on preparing the future workforce in this exciting field. Our mission also will involve an active engagement with local and non-local communities in the Kingdom in order to raise the awareness about benefits of alternative energy to the quality of life and economy in the Kingdom, and the world. The mission will be accomplished by adopting an aggressive Center outreach plan as detailed below." more

"One honor after another for Michael Grätzel—after consecrating thirty years to the development of dye-sensitized solar cells, the chemist and professor at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is among the ten most-cited scientists in the world. And now he has just been awarded the Millennium Technology Prize in Helsinki, one of the most prestigious awards for scientific excellence at a sum of 800,000 Euros.

Inspired by photosynthesis, this unique form of solar cell has only recently been commercialized. These dyed-sensitized solar cells cost less to produce than conventional silica based cells and are also more versatile, making them one of the most promising technologies in the field of renewable energy. Michaël Grätzel has also worked on improving next-generation li-on batteries by making them safer and more efficient and solar energy storage using hydrogen extraction—unlocking a potent carbon-free energy source that could one day replace petrol.

Instituted in 2004, the Millennium Technology Prize is one of the most widely-followed award in the field. Given by the Technology Academy Finland, a composition of Finnish government and industry, the award is for innovative applied science that contributes directly to the well-being of all. By awarding its highest honor to Michael Grätzel, the jury shows its firm confidence in the future of the dye-sensitized cells also known as Grätzel cells." more

Purdue University Photovoltaic Research Center
A multi-university Photovoltaic Research Center at Purdue University is addressing the performance, cost, reliability and manufacturing challenges of photovoltaic technologies. The center will leverage Purdue’s extensive modeling/simulation expertise and national Network for Computational Nanotechnology framework to provide enabling analytical models and simulation tools for photovoltaic manufacturers, much as Purdue has done for the semiconductor industry.

Carnegie Mellon Smart Grid Research Center
A multi-university Smart Grid Research Center at Carnegie Mellon University is working to support the incorporation of renewable energy resources and provide the modeling, simulation and control tools needed to manage, optimize and secure the power grid. The center will develop the dynamic monitoring and decision systems (DYMONDS) required to create a new paradigm for the electricity infrastructure. In addition, personal energy systems will be enabled, providing individuals and organizations choices and flexibility in their use of energy." more

The National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) at IIT Bombay was launched in 2010 and is a part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission of the Government of India.

The objective of the centre is to be the one of the leading PhotoVoltaic (PV) research and education centres in the world within the next decade. NCPRE aims to create and execute the blueprint for human resource development for PV in India.

The centre envisages both basic and applied research activities. The basic research activities include silicon solar cell fabrication, characterization, energy storage, new materials and novel PV structures. Development of power electronic interfaces for solar PV systems, new product designs, technology assessment and broader issues like sociological and environmental impact are an important part of the activities of the centre.

Eventually, NCPRE aims to make solar PV a cost-effective and relevant technology for meeting a significant part of the energy needs of India." more

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) mission is to research and develop energy technologies that enhance Florida's and the nation's economy and environment and to educate the public, students and practitioners on the results of the research.

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) was created by the Florida Legislature in 1975 to serve as the state’s energy research institute. The main responsibilities of the center are to conduct research, test and certify solar systems and develop education programs.

As Florida's energy research institute — with a 35-year history of unique expertise, experience and infrastructure — we are leading research and development efforts to bring our vision of Energy Independence to fruition." more

TIANWEI New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd. (TWNE) is an affiliate of China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC), a global 500 company. The TIANWEI Group is a leading enterprise in the power transmission industry, and has the biggest transformer plant in the world.

TWNE engages in the entire value chain of the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry -- the R&D, manufacturing, sales and service of polysilicon materials, silicon wafers, PV cells, PV modules, and PV systems. Covering an area of over 150 acres, TWNE has a total investment of about USD1.5billion. TWNE's current manufacturing capacity is 500MW for silicon wafers, 500MW for PV cells and 500MW for PV modules. The company will realize a capacity of 1GW by 2011 and 1.5GW by 2012 for silicon wafers, PV cells, and PV modules, respectively. TWNE has 6 subsidiaries, including Hoku Corporation. (NASDAQ:HOKU).

Guaranteed by our precise and highly efficient quality control system, well-trained employees, and top class facilities, TWNE is committed to offering our customers excellent products and outstanding services.

TIANWEI New Energy is located in Chengdu, a beautiful city in west China. Learn more about Chengdu" more

Clean Tech Institute is a leading research, consulting and training organization in emerging clean & renewable energy industry.

RESEARCH FOCUS:
Clean Tech Institute Research and Consulting Group is focusing on 2 fast growing sectors of the clean energy industry: Solar Photovoltaic and Electric Vehicle Battery Technology. The research projects are being conducted with collaboration with our partners at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.

Our research team lead by our director Lloyd L. Tran is currently developing Lithium Air Technology that can potentially provides 10 times more energy density than the lithium ion battery technologies. The newly developed Lithium Air Technology will be used to power an AMPTRAN electric car that will go for 400-500 miles between charges. The Lithium Air Battery technology developed by Lloyd Tran is based on proprietary Nanocomposite Technologies.

Clean Tech Institute has licensed its proprietary advanced battery technology to Lithium Air Industries.

The results of the Lithium Air Nanocomposite Technology has been submitted under a $5 million grant application in the 2011 Vehicle Technologies Program Wide Funding by the US Department of Energy.

In addition, our research team is working on developing a new Hydrogen Fuel Cell Energy Storage System, that can be used in conjunction with Lithium Air Technology to power a new generation of advanced vehicles by the year 2013." more

CAMP, the Center for Advanced Molecular Photovoltaics at Stanford University, is a research center led by Profs. Michael McGehee, Alan Sellinger and Reiner Dauskardt with the goal of revolutionizing the global energy landscape by developing the science and technology for stable, efficient molecular photovoltaic cells that can compete with fossil fuels in cost per kilowatt-hour produced. While today’s best molecular solar cells have efficiencies up to 8.5% and last approximately 2 years in sunlight, our vision is to increase the efficiency to at least 15%, and make the cells stable for 10 years or more. Furthermore, developing manufacturing technologies and production of cells at very low-cost is also a high priority.

To achieve these goals, CAMP has a renowned team of 15 principal investigators (PIs) from Stanford, UC Berkeley, USC, Georgia Tech and EPFL (see second page for a brief team description). The Center Director is Prof. Michael McGehee (Stanford). The management team further consists of Executive Director Consulting Prof. Alan Sellinger (Stanford), Deputy Director Prof. Reiner Dauskardt (Stanford), Prof. Mark Thompson (USC), Prof. Michael Grätzel (EPFL), and Prof. Jean-Luc Brédas (Georgia Tech). An estimated 60 or more students and post-doctoral researchers are engaged in the research activities at CAMP. CAMP is funded starting in June2008 by a 5-year $25M grant from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Global Research Partnership program.

CAMP's activities span polymer, small molecular and dye-sensitized molecular solar cells with research activities in molecular design through advanced quantum mechanical calculations, molecular synthesis, nanostructure engineering and characterization, understanding and engineering carrier recombination, light management, transparent contacts, and the engineering of durable molecular solar cells." more

To address the challenges in creating a sustainable energy future, the UNC EFRC: Center for Solar Fuels, funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, was established in 2009 at one of the top five public research universities in the United States, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Led by a distinguished faculty, including members of the National Academy of Sciences, UNC EFRC leverages key discoveries made at UNC during the past 20 years and collaborations with other research institutions to assemble a critical mass of scientists working together on energy-related research. The research center is headquartered at UNC-CH in partnership with Duke University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, the University of Florida, Research Triangle Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Maryland.

The UNC EFRC is conducting research on capturing sunlight to drive solar fuel reactions. The Center’s efforts range from basic research on fundamental processes to integrating components into sub-systems and sub-systems into prototypical devices. The research utilizes a broad, multidisciplinary approach in a highly collaborative setting drawing on expertise across a broad range of disciplines in chemistry, physics, and materials sciences. The primary target is a Dye Sensitized Photoelectrosynthesis Cells (DSPEC) for solar fuels production as illustrated below." more

World leading solar research and education takes place within three groups in the Research School of Engineering at the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science. Each distinct group focuses on particular areas of solar related technology.

Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems
The group researches photovoltaic solar cells and concentrator solar thermal technologies. Activities include defect detection and surface passivation in silicon wafers; high performance silicon solar cells, including SLIVER solar cells; modelling; plasmons and nano PV technology; hybrid PV/thermal parabolic trough concentrator systems; and solar cooling.

Semiconductor Materials & Solar Cells
The group's research spans the fields of semiconductor technology, silicon solar cells and photovoltaic solar energy. It aims to achieve a balance between basic science and applied engineering, with a focus on crystalline and multicrystalline silicon materials, and their application to solar cells.

Solar Thermal Group
The group conducts research and development activities that aim to improve the conversion of solar energy using flat plate non concentrating systems and mirrored solar concentrators. Activities are roughly split into low temperature and high temperature areas." more

We have technology that will change the world.

That's a bold claim. But consider this: Natcore Technology controls a new thin-film growth process that promises to allow mass manufacturing of tandem solar cells with twice the efficiency of the best solar cells available today.

This would mean that solar energy would finally be cost-competitive with conventional power. And that we can significantly diminish our dependence on fossil fuels.

Moreover, our technology allows for solar cell production that eradicates the need for toxic silane; eliminates the need for intensive energy used to apply the antireflective coating; and significantly lowers silicon usage. But our world-changing technology also promises to have dramatic impact on semiconductor devices; optical components; eyewear; aerospace exploration; and architectural coatings, among other uses." more

The Norwegian Research Centre for Solar Cell Technology joins the major Norwegian scientific and industrial players in the field of photovoltaic technology. The Centre aims at further developing the strong, Norwegian photovoltaic industry and substantially contributing towards making solar energy a significant renewable energy source. From July 2011, the Centre partners are IFE, NTNU, SINTEF, the University of Oslo, CleanSi, Elkem Solar, Fesil Sunergy, Innotech Solar, Norsun, Prediktor and REC.

The main objective of the Centre is to give current and future companies in the Norwegian photovoltaic industry access to world leading technological and scientific expertise, thereby enabling this industry to grow into one of the most important land-based industries in Norway. This will be achieved by the following goals:
• To build a national, scientific and technological research and education infrastructure that covers the solar cell value chain from raw materials to finished solar cells and modules.
• To establish a national researcher school in solar cell technology.
• To train 23 PhD and 21 post.doc candidates as a recruitment base for the growing photovoltaic industry.
• To coordinate strategic investments in equipment, personnel, competence development and technology in the coming 8-year period to fill gaps in the research infrastructure and to carry out world leading research.
• To strengthen the recruitment of masterís students to relevant fields.
• To create an arena for industry, research institutes and academia where fundamental knowledge is transformed into innovative ideas that form the basis for future innovation 'harvesting' projects in conjunction to the Centre." more

SERIS is Singapore's national institute for applied solar energy research.

VISION
The vision of SERIS is to contribute to the transformation of today's global energy system towards sustainability. This includes (i) protection of our natural life support system, (ii) eradication of energy poverty in developing countries and (iii) promotion of peace, by reducing the dependence on regionally concentrated energy resources.

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of SERIS is to conduct research and development for a sustainable energy supply based on solar resources. SERIS carries out application oriented research and development and collaborates closely with industry. Use-inspired basic research is done in joint undertakings with research groups from universities and research institutes.

SERIS is globally active but focuses on South and South-East Asia, in particular Singapore. The development of solar energy technologies that are particularly suited for tropical regions is one of the main goals of the institute.

The R&D focus of SERIS is on materials, components, processes and systems for photovoltaic electricity generation and solar and energy efficient buildings. more