2. SOLAR ENERGY
The U.S. Department of Energy is beginning a new Solar America Initiative (SAI) to accelerate the development of advanced photovoltaic systems with the goal of making photovoltaics (PV) cost-competitive with other forms of renewable electricity by 2015. In that context, we need grant applications that complement and enhance the Solar America Initiative. In simple terms we want to invite small businesses to contribute to SAI by “filling technology holes” in the vast array of SAI manufacturing, systems and projects. We intend to bolster the likelihood of success for SAI through innovative complementary technologies that support the cost reductions needed in photovoltaic manufacturing and system energy production.
a. Monitoring and Self-Diagnosing PV Systems, Components and Modules—As PV becomes more widely used during the Solar America Initiative, the value of PV systems will be more intensely scrutinized and the actual performance of systems versus predictions and actual weather values will become progressively more important. In addition, as PV technologies change and new ones are introduced, module and system reliability may be critical to success. Reliability is particularly important for new module and inverter technologies. Grant applications are sought for innovative methods to monitor PV system and component performance and to relate performance to actual weather (e.g. solar insolation, temperature, humidity and temperature) so as to ascertain failure and loss mechanisms as quickly as possible. Proposed monitoring and diagnostics can be embedded in system components resulting in, for example, state-of-the-health system sensors, smart metering, load management controllers and smart inverters.
Questions - contact Alec Bulawka (alec.bulawka@hq.doe.gov)
Subtopic a Reference:
1. “Solar America Initiative,” U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Website. (URL: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/solar_america/about.html)
b. PV (Crystalline Silicon and Thin Film) Manufacturing Diagnostics—Grant applications are sought for diagnostic technologies to improve yield and reduce cost of crystalline silicon PV manufacturing of cells and modules. Industry has identified many specific issues and high priority areas include, but are not limited to: 1) identification and resolution of wafer stress and wafer cracks; 2) handling technologies for improved robot transfer forces, rates and belt transfers; 3) improved interconnect technologies for auto wafer assembly, back contact interconnects, and wafer assembly stress management; 4) new air conveyors and improved manufacturing data tracking.
Applications are also sought for diagnostic and control technologies to improve yield, increase materials utilization and reduce cost of thin film PV module manufacturing. Areas of interest include but are not limited to such high priority issues as: process characterization through improved sensors and control technologies for maintaining coating flux density, distribution of the flux emerging from the coating source, mean energy of the flux in order to assure reproducible stoichiometry, high deposition rates, better materials utilization, microstructure control (i.e. grain size, morphology, texture and porosity), coating uniformity, film stress, and film adhesion.
Questions - contact Alec Bulawka (alec.bulawka@hq.doe.gov)
Subtopic b References:
1. “PV (Photovoltaic) Manufacturing R&D,” U.S. DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory Website. (URL: http://www.nrel.gov/ncpv/pv_manufacturing/)
2. Board on Manufacturing and Engineering Design, “Unit Manufacturing Processes: Issues and Opportunities in Research,” National Academies Press, 1995. (Online text and ordering information available at: http://darwin.nap.edu/books/0309051924/html/1.html)
c. Non-Inverter Balance-of-System Components and Net-Metering Technologies—Inverters and related balance-of-system (BOS) components are critical elements in the performance of photovoltaic power systems developed through SAI. Inverters will likely be the center of BOS attention for almost all the SAI projects. There are many opportunities to improve non-inverter BOS components for PV applications for grid interactive applications. Grant applications are sought for: 1) smart main and branch circuit breakers that provide the means to monitor whole-building or branch power usage; 2) simplified or standardized wiring methodologies for building integrated PV applications; 3) innovative surge protection for complete system or building protection from surges on either the DC or AC side, junction boxes that provide simplified intra- and inter-array wiring; 4) innovative mounting methodologies and installation concepts; 5) state-of-system health monitoring capabilities, system predictive monitoring, and safety and logic controls for complete system code and standards compliance.
The ability to use PV generated electricity to offset the total load of the customer during peak usage or critical power-needed times has developed into one of the more important incentives in the economics of a PV system. In order to make PV more cost-effective with value added, it is logical to look for simple net metering methodologies, communications and control functions, where customers receive the full value of their PV output without excessive net-metering fees or requirements. Integrating PV systems into electric utility distribution systems for net metering should be a win-win prospect for the consumer and the utility. Grant applications are sought for the development of complete system controllers or methodologies that provide value to both the consumer and the utility. The controllers may be integrated into the complete systems or serve as ancillary devices connected to smart hardware such as inverters or smart circuit breakers. Applications are also sought for predictive methodologies for value-added, self diagnostics for PV systems, smart and adaptive hardware including system controls that interface with a wide variety of disconnect devices, circuit breakers, energy storage, or ancillary power producers. Applications may include grid-connected concepts including those that provide a variety of uninterruptible power for critical loads or selective load shedding for aiding highly stressed utilities. Applications are also sought to address the requirements for automated revenue-grade monitoring of PV systems for net metering that avoids the need for additional utility meters. This may be addressed as an ancillary or inverter-integrated energy monitoring methodology and may include secure communications that allows the utility to override the required anti-islanding functions.
Questions - contact Alec Bulawka (alec.bulawka@hq.doe.gov)
Subtopic c References:
1. Ton, D. and Bower, W., “Summary Report on the High-Tech Inverter Workshop,” U.S. DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, January 2005. (Full text available at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/inverter_II_workshop.pdf)
2. Townsend, T. C., et al., “A New Performance Index for PV System Analysis,” Conference Record of the First World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Waikoloa, HI, December 1994, 1: 1036-1039, IEEE, December 1994. (Abstract and ordering information available at: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/servlet/opac?punumber=3971
d. Non-Cell Concentrator Photovoltaic System Components—The development of concentrator PV systems is generating recent interest because of new high efficiency III-V solar cells approaching 40% solar conversion efficiency. Grant applications are sought for the development of non-solar cell components of CPV systems. Such innovation includes optical concentration designs such as refractive, reflective and holographic concepts. Another component relates to tracking structures, control logic for tracking, torque leveraging technologies involving gears or hydraulics, and wind loading protection schemes. Mechanical engineering innovation includes structural designs to reduce steel content (due to rising steel prices) while maintaining structural integrity, avoidance of mechanical resonances, while meeting wind loading requirements. Another mechanical engineering area for innovation includes solar cell cooling such as phase change concepts (heat pipes or thermosiphons), innovative materials with high thermal conductivity and low electrical resistance, as well as active cooling concepts. Applications are also sought for integrated CPV concepts such as integrated building CPV concepts and luminescent concentrator concepts.
Questions - contact Alec Bulawka (alec.bulawka@hq.doe.gov)
Subtopic d References:
1. Proceedings of the International Conference on Solar Concentrators for the Generation of Electricity or Hydrogen, Scottsdale, AZ, May 2005. (CD of Conference papers available free of charge. Contact Sandy Padilla. Email: sandy_padilla@nrel.gov. Phone: 303-384-6495.)
2. Shaheen, S. E., et al., “Organic-Based Photovoltaics: Toward Low-Cost Power Generation,” Materials Research Society Bulletin, 30: 10-15, 2005. (ISSN: 0883-7694)
3. Brabec, C. J., et al., “Plastic Solar Cells,” Advanced Functional Materials 11(1): 15-26, 2001. (ISSN: 1616-301X Print) (Abstract available at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/. Toward bottom of screen, BROWSE by product type: Journals, then BROWSE by [journal] title. In column at right, search by citation, above)
4. Coakley, K. M. and McGehee, M. D., “Conjugated Polymer Photovoltaic Cells,” Chemistry of Materials, 16: 4533-4542, 2004. (ISSN: 0897-4756) (Abstract available at: http://pubs.acs.org/journals/cmatex/index.html. At top of page, click on “Search the Journals.” Under “Citation Finder” search using bibliographic information, above.)
5. Golberg, D., et al., “Metal-Filled Nanotubes: Synthesis, Analysis, Properties and Applications,” AIP Conference Proceedings, 723[Electronic Properties of Synthetic Nanostructures]: 229-233, 2004. (ISBN: 0-7354-0204-3) (Abstracts and ordering information available at: http://proceedings.aip.org/proceedings/. Search for Proceedings Volumes.
6. Kazuhito H., et al., “TiO2 Photocatalysis: A Historical Overview and Future Prospects,” Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 44(12): 8269-8285, December 2005. (ISSN: 0021-4922 Print) (Abstract available at: http://jjap.ipap.jp/link?JJAP/44/8269)
7. Fujishima, A., et al., “TiO2 Photocatalysis - Fundamentals and Applications,” Tokyo: BKC, Inc., 1999. (ISBN: 4-939051-03-X) (Photographs, from book, of TiO2 photocatalyst applications available at: http://netserv.ipc.uni-linz.ac.at/~dieter/DsWeb/Research/Detox/Photocat.pdf)
8. Koida, M. L., et al., “Effect of A-site Cation Ordering on the Magnetoelectric Properties in [(LaMnO3)m/(SrMnO3)m]n Artificial Superlattices,” Physical Review B, 66(14): 144418-144424, October 2002. (ISSN: 0163-1829)
9. Carrette, L., et al., “Fuel Cells: Principles, Types, Fuels, and Applications,” ChemPhysChem, 1(4): 162 – 193, December 15, 2000. (ISSN: 1439-4235) (Abstract and access-purchasing information available at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/. Toward bottom of screen, BROWSE by product type: Journals, then BROWSE by [journal] title. In column at right, search by citation, using bibliographic information, above.)
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