Syllabus for Advanced Solar Cell Design

Learning outcomes

After a successfully completed course the student should be able to:

• analyse how different designs affect the performance of solar cells,
• calculate the performance of a solar cell using simulation tools,
• separate optical and electrical losses in a solar cell,
• compare the main processing methods to fabricate solar cells with high efficiency from an economic, technical and sustainability perspective,
• propose design changes to minimise losses,
• evaluate different module types with regard to function, application, economy and appearance.

Content

Fabrication of silicon based as well as thin film solar cells, the impact on performance. Concepts for high efficiency at cell level for both silicon and thin film based celss (point contacts, light scattering, 3D structures, tandem, bandgapsgradering). Advanced module concept (back contacted solar cells, I-module, flexible modules). Simulation of solar cell structures in one dimension with two different simulation programs.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars and computer simulations. Study visits.

Assessment

Written and oral presentation of the simulation project (3 hp). Oral examination of processing methods and modular concepts (2 hp).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.