Photovoltaics for Emerging Energy Systems

新兴能源系统的光伏

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03877
• 负责人: Hinzer, Karin
• 金额: $ 4.01万
• 依托单位: University of Ottawa
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=752491
• 关键词: Photovoltaics; Emerging; Energy; Systems

Photonic power is emerging as a driver of next-generation energy systems, where R&D and uptake must accelerate to avoid the severest impacts of climate change, forming a new global clean energy economy critically coupled to higher efficiency, electrification, digitalization, and sustainability. Photovoltaic (PV) solar power is now the least expensive new electricity generator in many regions worldwide, transforming energy industries from global polluters into clean local providers. PV innovations can also be harnessed synergistically in very different applications in aerospace, health, and telecoms. This research program seeks breakthroughs in two photovoltaic themes: (1) PV materials & devices, and (2) system strategies & resource assessments. Research on versatile compound semiconductor (III-V) materials and devices identifies better efficiencies for multijunction solar cells, photonic power converters, and thermal photovoltaics (TPV). For systems, better solar field performance forecasting de-risks business buildout strategies for bifacial systems and structure-integrated photovoltaics, and novel photonic power converter systems revolutionize power and data transmission in free space or over optical fibre. This proposal grows our science capabilities in new directions: (a) accelerating accurate design of better multijunction III-V devices by grafting artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for complex optimizations onto standard numerical engines for solid-state physics; (b) novel ultrathin, textured multijunction architectures for PV devices; (c) new fabrication and epitaxy techniques for PV and TPV devices; (d) novel models for PV collection and conversion; and (e) green hydrogen production from water, powered by solar cells matched precisely to electrolyzer voltages. Program impact is foremost to accelerate transition programs to clean energy economies in Canada and worldwide, ramping faster cost reductions and efficiency improvements in campaigns mitigating fuel consumption, emissions, and waste. For example, each percentage point improvement in solar panel efficiency is equivalent to a proportionate cost reduction of the entire field and distribution network, not just the panels. Lightweight optical fibre systems moving power and data around aerospace vehicles will replace heavy copper cable bundles, reducing parts count and simplifying builds. TPV devices scavenge waste heat from industrial plants or propulsion engines, generating local electrical power. A program hallmark is to exploit similar materials science and device physics across many different applications and markets. The program will train four PhD students and two undergraduate students per year in leading-edge technologies, providing a grounding in semiconductor photonics design, fabrication, and performance testing, applied across renewable energy systems and information and communications products and services in Canadian and global markets.

光子发电正在成为下一代能源系统的驱动力，其研发和应用必须加速，以避免气候变化的最严重影响，形成与更高效率、电气化、数字化和可持续性密切相关的新的全球清洁能源经济。光伏（PV）太阳能现在是全球许多地区最便宜的新型发电机，将能源行业从全球污染者转变为清洁的本地供应者。光伏创新还可以在航空航天、健康和电信等不同的应用中协同利用。该研究计划寻求在两个光伏主题方面取得突破：（1）光伏材料和器件，以及（2）系统策略和资源评估。对多功能化合物半导体 (III-V) 材料和器件的研究确定了多结太阳能电池、光子功率转换器和热光伏 (TPV) 的更高效率。对于系统而言，更好的太阳能场性能预测可以降低​​双面系统和结构集成光伏业务建设策略的风险，而新型光子功率转换器系统则彻底改变了自由空间或光纤上的电力和数据传输。该提案在新的方向上提高了我们的科学能力：（a）通过将用于复杂优化的人工智能（AI）技术移植到固态物理的标准数值引擎上，加速更好的多结III-V器件的精确设计； (b) 用于光伏器件的新型超薄、纹理多结架构； (c) PV和TPV器件的新制造和外延技术； (d) 光伏收集和转换的新颖模型； (e) 从水中生产绿色氢气，由与电解槽电压精确匹配的太阳能电池供电。该计划的影响最重要的是加速加拿大和世界范围内向清洁能源经济的转型计划，在减少燃料消耗、排放和废物的活动中加快成本降低和效率提高。例如，太阳能电池板效率每提高一个百分点，就相当于整个现场和配电网络的成本按比例降低，而不仅仅是电池板的成本降低。在航空航天器周围传输电力和数据的轻型光纤系统将取代笨重的铜电缆束，从而减少零件数量并简化构建。 TPV 设备收集工业厂房或推进发动机的废热，产生本地电力。该计划的一个特点是在许多不同的应用和市场中利用类似的材料科学和设备物理学。该计划每年将培训四名博士生和两名本科生掌握前沿技术，为半导体光子学设计、制造和性能测试奠定基础，应用于加拿大和全球市场的可再生能源系统以及信息和通信产品和服务。