This is a title slide titled "Solar Cells: Technical Overview." It features the subtitle "College Seminar Presentation."

Solar Cells: Technical Overview

College Seminar Presentation

Source: College Seminar Presentation

Solar energy is a renewable source derived from sunlight, converted to electricity by photovoltaic (PV) systems. It addresses rising global energy demand and is key to a sustainable future.

Introduction to Solar Energy

• Renewable energy source derived from sunlight
• Rising global energy demand worldwide
• Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert light to electricity
• Key to achieving a sustainable future

The slide "What is a Solar Cell?" defines it as a semiconductor device that converts light into electricity via the photovoltaic effect. It highlights how a P-N junction enables electron-hole flow.

What is a Solar Cell?

!Image

• Semiconductor device converts light into electricity
• Operates via the photovoltaic effect
• P-N junction enables electron-hole flow

Source: Wikipedia: Solar cell

Solar cells work by absorbing photons in a semiconductor like silicon to generate electron-hole pairs in the depletion region, which are then separated by the p-n junction's electric field, directing electrons to the n-side and holes to the p-side. Electrons flow through an external circuit to recombine, enabling continuous charge collection that produces direct current (DC) electricity.

Working Principle of a Solar Cell

{ "headers": [ "Phase", "Mechanism", "Result" ], "rows": [ [ "Photon Absorption", "Photons absorbed by semiconductor material (e.g., silicon)", "Electron-hole pairs generated in the depletion region" ], [ "Charge Separation", "Built-in electric field at p-n junction sweeps charges", "Electrons directed to n-side, holes to p-side" ], [ "Electron Flow", "Electrons travel through external circuit to recombine", "Current flows from n-type to p-type contact" ], [ "DC Current Generation", "Continuous photon absorption and charge collection", "Direct current (DC) electricity produced" ] ] }

Source: Photon to Current Workflow

The slide's left column details key layers of a solar cell structure: glass protective cover, EVA encapsulant, anti-reflective coating, N-type and P-type silicon (PN junction), and back contact. The right column lists common materials, including silicon (monocrystalline/polycrystalline), CdTe, CIGS, and perovskites.

Structure and Materials Used

| Glass (protective cover) EVA (encapsulant) Anti-reflective coating N-type silicon P-type silicon (PN junction) Back contact | Silicon (monocrystalline/polycrystalline) CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) Perovskites |

The slide table compares four solar cell types by efficiency, cost, and notes: Monocrystalline (15-22%, high cost, pure silicon), Polycrystalline (13-16%, medium cost, affordable multi-crystal), Thin-Film (7-13%, low cost, flexible CdTe/CIGS), and Perovskite (20-25%, low cost, emerging high potential). Monocrystalline and Perovskite lead in efficiency, balancing performance against affordability trade-offs.

Types of Solar Cells

{ "headers": [ "Type", "Efficiency", "Cost", "Notes" ], "rows": [ [ "Monocrystalline", "15-22%", "High", "Pure silicon, high perf" ], [ "Polycrystalline", "13-16%", "Medium", "Multi-crystal, affordable" ], [ "Thin-Film", "7-13%", "Low", "Flexible, CdTe/CIGS" ], [ "Perovskite", "20-25%", "Low", "Emerging, high potential" ] ] }

Solar cells provide a renewable, abundant energy source with zero emissions during operation. They offer low maintenance, a 25+ year lifespan, scalability from small to utility-scale, and globally decreasing costs.

Advantages of Solar Cells

• Renewable and abundant energy source
• Zero emissions during operation
• Low maintenance, long lifespan (25+ years)
• Scalable from small to utility-scale
• Decreasing costs globally

Solar cells have high initial costs of $1-2 per watt installed and average efficiencies of 15-22% for commercial silicon panels. They also feature a low capacity factor of 20-25% due to intermittent output and require 5-10 acres per MW for utility-scale plants.

Disadvantages of Solar Cells

• $1-2/W: High Initial Cost

Per watt installed

• 15-22%: Average Efficiency

Commercial silicon panels

• 20-25%: Capacity Factor

Intermittent output

• 5-10 acres/MW: Land Requirement

Utility-scale plants

The "Applications of Solar Cells" slide features a grid showcasing five key uses with icons. It covers residential rooftops for home power, commercial buildings for cost savings, utility-scale farms for grid energy, space satellites for orbital reliability, and portable off-grid systems for remote needs.

Applications of Solar Cells

{ "features": [ { "icon": "🏠", "heading": "Residential Rooftops", "description": "Powering homes sustainably, reducing bills and grid dependence." }, { "icon": "🏢", "heading": "Commercial Buildings", "description": "Rooftop panels cut costs and emissions for businesses." }, { "icon": "🌞", "heading": "Utility-Scale Farms", "description": "Vast arrays generate gigawatts for national power grids." }, { "icon": "🛰️", "heading": "Space Satellites", "description": "Reliable energy for satellites and spacecraft in orbit." }, { "icon": "🔋", "heading": "Portable & Off-Grid", "description": "Compact power for chargers and remote systems." } ] }

Source: Real-world examples

The timeline "Future Trends and Innovations" highlights solar breakthroughs like perovskite tandems exceeding 30% efficiency in 2020 and bifacial panels becoming mainstream by 2025. It projects efficiencies surpassing 35% by 2030, ongoing quantum dot and organic PV advances, and costs below $0.2/W in the future with AI integration.

Future Trends and Innovations

2020: Perovskite Tandems Exceed 30% Efficiency Perovskite tandem solar cells achieve over 30% power conversion efficiency breakthrough. 2025: Bifacial Panels Become Mainstream Bifacial solar panels gain widespread adoption in commercial and utility-scale projects. 2030: Efficiency Surpasses 35% Milestone Next-generation solar cells push power conversion efficiencies beyond 35%. Ongoing: Quantum Dots and Organic PV Advance Continuous innovations in quantum dots and organic photovoltaics enhance flexibility and performance. Future: Costs Drop Below $0.2/W with AI Integration Solar costs fall under $0.2 per watt, integrated with AI and energy storage.

The conclusion slide emphasizes that solar cells are pivotal for the clean energy transition and that challenges can be overcome with innovation. It invites Q&A, lists references from Wikipedia, NREL reports, and IEEE papers, and ends with "Thank you!"

Conclusion and References

• Solar cells pivotal for clean energy transition.

• Challenges surmountable with innovation.
• Q&A

References:

• Wikipedia: Solar Cell
• NREL reports
• IEEE Photovoltaic papers

Thank you!

Source: Wikipedia: Solar Cell NREL reports IEEE Photovoltaic papers