High efficiency magnetics for high frequency and high energy density power converters used in renewable energy systems. This project will result in the development of more efficient power conversion technologies for solar energy production and enable greater utilisation of renewable, solar-generated power in the national electricity supply. Technology developed from this proposal will provide the solar power industry with several new high frequency magnetics technologies utilised in solar power ....High efficiency magnetics for high frequency and high energy density power converters used in renewable energy systems. This project will result in the development of more efficient power conversion technologies for solar energy production and enable greater utilisation of renewable, solar-generated power in the national electricity supply. Technology developed from this proposal will provide the solar power industry with several new high frequency magnetics technologies utilised in solar power converters. These solar technology innovations will result in national benefits through reduced carbon emissions from a greater uptake of renewable (solar) power. It will enable Australia to rise to meet the renewable energy generation and utilisation standards of the United States of America and Europe.Read moreRead less
Innovative high-efficiency hybrid technology for commercial solar cells. The purpose of this project is to develop improved photovoltaic devices of significantly higher efficiency and lower cost than conventional screen-printed solar cells. This in turn will contribute to greatly reduced electricity costs from non fossil-fuel based sources.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100620
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Hydrogen passivation mechanisms in silicon solar cells. This project aims to understand hydrogen passivation mechanisms in silicon solar cells. Most silicon solar cells use low-quality wafers with defects that can reduce performance by >10%. Commercial devices use hydrogen to passivate defects and improve performance. Despite decades of research, these passivation mechanisms are controversial and industrial methods are ineffective. This project will investigate hydrogen charge-state control and ....Hydrogen passivation mechanisms in silicon solar cells. This project aims to understand hydrogen passivation mechanisms in silicon solar cells. Most silicon solar cells use low-quality wafers with defects that can reduce performance by >10%. Commercial devices use hydrogen to passivate defects and improve performance. Despite decades of research, these passivation mechanisms are controversial and industrial methods are ineffective. This project will investigate hydrogen charge-state control and transient hydrogenation processes, and correlate reaction rates and material properties. This should improve the understanding of hydrogen passivation mechanisms and lead to more effective hydrogenation processes that potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of sustainable electricity.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100268
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Advanced Recombination-based Loss Analysis Methods for Solar Cells. Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are too expensive to become a viable solution for the challenges facing humanity. Increasing solar cell efficiency can reduce the cost of PV-generated power. Improved efficiency requires the ability to identify and quantify loss mechanisms, many of which are recombination related. Thus, innovative analysis methods need to be developed to facilitate improved understanding and identification of variou ....Advanced Recombination-based Loss Analysis Methods for Solar Cells. Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are too expensive to become a viable solution for the challenges facing humanity. Increasing solar cell efficiency can reduce the cost of PV-generated power. Improved efficiency requires the ability to identify and quantify loss mechanisms, many of which are recombination related. Thus, innovative analysis methods need to be developed to facilitate improved understanding and identification of various loss mechanisms. The project aims to investigate recombination processes that deteriorate solar cells performance, using a novel measurement system in combination with advanced simulation tools. The project aims to assist with development of advanced processes to improve device performance.Read moreRead less
Nanophotonic tandem designs for high efficiency solar cells. This project will develop high-efficiency tandem solar cells that combine established silicon cell technology with novel low-cost thin-film solar cells. It will incorporate nanostructured layers between the cells that selectively trap different wavelengths of light, maximising light absorption in the top cell. This will make it possible to use a very thin top cell, reducing the requirements on electronic quality of the material. This p ....Nanophotonic tandem designs for high efficiency solar cells. This project will develop high-efficiency tandem solar cells that combine established silicon cell technology with novel low-cost thin-film solar cells. It will incorporate nanostructured layers between the cells that selectively trap different wavelengths of light, maximising light absorption in the top cell. This will make it possible to use a very thin top cell, reducing the requirements on electronic quality of the material. This project will also develop self-assembly techniques to enable the new nanostructures to be fabricated quickly and cheaply but with a high degree of control. Such cells will allow open the door to higher efficiencies, and lower costs, than is achievable with conventional solar cells.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101252
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,000.00
Summary
Passivating Cadmium free Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cell by contact engineering. The project aims to develop new solar cells made of low cost abundant elements. The cells are cadmium-free copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS) cells formed by rear contact passivation and damage-free evaporated front layers. CZTS has the same efficiency potential as current commercial copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells, but consists of low cost, abundant elements. Concepts and methods will be developed for passivatio ....Passivating Cadmium free Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cell by contact engineering. The project aims to develop new solar cells made of low cost abundant elements. The cells are cadmium-free copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS) cells formed by rear contact passivation and damage-free evaporated front layers. CZTS has the same efficiency potential as current commercial copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells, but consists of low cost, abundant elements. Concepts and methods will be developed for passivation of CZTS solar cells via both back and front contact engineering. The cadmium- free buffer layer will be investigated and the application of CZTS will be expanded. This work may be applied to CIGS improvement and could give CZTS materials a significant role in the rapidly growing photovoltaic industry.Read moreRead less
A new defect-control approach for mismatched heteroepitaxy semiconductors. This project aims to develop a new defect-control approach for silicon-germanium heteroepitaxial semiconductor systems to provide a route for high-throughput, low-cost, high-efficiency silicon tandem solar cells. Mismatched heteroepitaxy of semiconductors is of considerable interest for fabricating novel devices. However, the use of highly-mismatched heteroepitaxial semiconductors has been limited due to the high densitie ....A new defect-control approach for mismatched heteroepitaxy semiconductors. This project aims to develop a new defect-control approach for silicon-germanium heteroepitaxial semiconductor systems to provide a route for high-throughput, low-cost, high-efficiency silicon tandem solar cells. Mismatched heteroepitaxy of semiconductors is of considerable interest for fabricating novel devices. However, the use of highly-mismatched heteroepitaxial semiconductors has been limited due to the high densities of crystal defects which degrade the performance of both majority and minority carrier devices. This project aims to develop a new defect-control approach for heteroepitaxial semiconductors by continuous wavelength diode laser processing. With heteroepitaxial silicon-germanium as an example, the project will investigate the mechanism underlying defect-cleaning, optimised designs for best performance, and designs for high-efficiency tandem solar cells.Read moreRead less
Atomic-scale structural characterisation of quantum-dot nanostructures for novel photovoltaic applications. This project aims to design, fabricate and characterise innovative quantum-dot solar cells in order to overcome the atomic-scale defects that limit current approaches. The scientific and engineering understanding acquired through this project will enable the rapidly growing global solar-cell industry to produce higher-efficiency III-V solar cells.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101118
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,446.00
Summary
Enabling high photovoltaic penetration in power distribution networks. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid control method for power distribution grid network voltage regulation with high photovoltaic penetration. The outcome of this project will enable power utilities to cost-effectively regulate network voltage and ultimately remove barriers for future photovoltaic deployment. This will deliver significant economic benefits for both the wider community and utility providers, along with ....Enabling high photovoltaic penetration in power distribution networks. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid control method for power distribution grid network voltage regulation with high photovoltaic penetration. The outcome of this project will enable power utilities to cost-effectively regulate network voltage and ultimately remove barriers for future photovoltaic deployment. This will deliver significant economic benefits for both the wider community and utility providers, along with substantial environmental outcomes through increased use of sustainable energy sources.Read moreRead less
Commercial Solar Cells with Improved Metallisation and Interconnection. The project aims to further develop a photovoltaic device concept with reduced metallisation and improved interconnection techniques. The expected outcome of the project is to remove over 90 per cent of cell metallisation compared to industry standards, and achieve a cell efficiency up to 23 per cent, which together can reduce the cost of ownership by 20 per cent. In addition, the concept eliminates the use of toxic lead and ....Commercial Solar Cells with Improved Metallisation and Interconnection. The project aims to further develop a photovoltaic device concept with reduced metallisation and improved interconnection techniques. The expected outcome of the project is to remove over 90 per cent of cell metallisation compared to industry standards, and achieve a cell efficiency up to 23 per cent, which together can reduce the cost of ownership by 20 per cent. In addition, the concept eliminates the use of toxic lead and cadmium and expensive silver. This project aims to transform an Australian patented technology into mass-production, providing overseas licence income to Australia.Read moreRead less