Thin film chalcogenide solar cells are promising photovoltaic technologies. Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS)-based devices are already produced at industrial scale and record laboratory efficiency surpasses 22 %. Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTS) is an alternative material that is based on earth-abundant elements. CZTS device efficiency above 12 % has been obtained, indicating a high potential for improvement. In this thesis, in-line vacuum, sputtering-based processes for the fabrication of complete thin film chalcogenide solar cells on stainless steel substrates are studied. CIGS absorbers are deposited in a one-step high-temperature process using compound targets. CZTS precursors are first deposited by room temperature sputtering and absorbers are then formed by high temperature crystallization in a controlled atmosphere. In both cases, strategies for absorber layer improvement are identified and implemented. The impact of CZTS annealing temperature is studied and it is observed that the absorber grain size increases with annealing temperature up to 550 °C. While performance also improves from 420 to 510 °C, a drop in all solar cell parameters is observed for higher temperature. This loss is caused by blisters forming in the absorber during annealing. Blister formation is found to originate from gas entrapment during precursor sputtering. Increase in substrate temperature or sputtering pressure leads to drastic reduction of gas entrapment and hence alleviate blister formation resulting in improved solar cell parameters, including efficiency. An investigation of bandgap grading in industrial CIGS devices is conducted through one-dimensional simulations and experimental verification. It is found that a single gradient in the conduction band edge extending throughout the absorber combined with a steeper back-grading leads to improved solar cell performance, mainly due to charge carrier collection enhancement. The uniformity of both CIGS and CZTS 6-inch solar cells is assessed. For CZTS, the device uniformity is mainly limited by the in-line annealing process. Uneven heat and gas distribution resulting from natural convection phenomenon leads to significant lateral variation in material properties and device performance. CIGS solar cell uniformity is studied through laterally-resolved material and device characterization combined with SPICE network modeling. The absorber material is found to be laterally homogeneous. Moderate variations observed at the device level are discussed in the context of large area sample characterization. Power conversion efficiency values above 15 % for 225 cm2 CIGS cells and up to 5.1 % for 1 cm2 CZTS solar cells are obtained.

Renewable energy sources, in form of solar power, is a growing source of energy. Not only at an industry level but also at a commercial level. Grid-connected, building-applied solar power has increased rapidly and as the implementation of solar energy grows, so does the importance of being able to evaluate locations that are of interest of installations with respect to its potential production and its impact on the electrical grid. In this thesis the energy production for different future scenarios is modelled for BAPV (Building Applied Photovoltaics) in Uppsala and Herrljunga. This is done by using calculation and simulation programs called MATLAB and ArcGIS. The results regarding Uppsala, are used in a report by BEESG (Built Environment Energy Systems Group) at Uppsala University to the Swedish energy agency. The grid impact of installing extensive solar power as concentrated and dispersed in Herrljunga are simulated and evaluated. Both authors has during the process been equally involved in all parts of the thesis in order to get a thorough understanding of the project as a whole. This due to the fact that the different parts of the thesis were dependent of each other (the second part could not be finished until the first were completed etc).

The ongoing transformation of the energy system along a more sustainable trajectory requires advancements in a range of technological fields, as well as active involvement of different societal groups. Integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems in the built environment in particular is expected to play a crucial long-term role in the deployment of renewable energy technologies in urban areas, demanding the successful cooperation of planners, architects, engineers, scientists and users. The realisation of that technological change will require innovation at both an individual (within firms and organisations) and a collective (sector) level, giving rise to systemic approaches for its characterisation and analysis of its drivers. This study investigates the processes that either accelerate or hinder the development and diffusion of Building-Integrated PV (BIPV) applications into the market. Affected by developments in both the renewable energy and construction industries, the BIPV innovation system is a multi-sectoral case that has been explored only partially up to now. Acknowledging the fact that drivers of innovation span the globalised BIPV supply chain, this research adopts both an international and a national spatial perspective focusing on the UK. The analysis is based on a novel analytical framework which was developed in order to capture innovation dynamics at different levels, including technological advancements within firms, competition and synergy with other emerging and established innovation systems and pressures from the wider socio-economic configuration. This hybrid functional framework was conceived by combining elements from three academic strands: Technological Innovation Systems, the Multi-Level Perspective and Business Studies. The empirical research is based on various methods, including desktop research, semi-structured interviews and in-depth firm-level case studies. A thorough market assessment provides the techno-economic background for the research. The hybrid framework is used as a guide throughout the empirical investigation and is also implemented in the analytical part of the study to organise and interpret the findings, in order to assess the overall functionality of the innovation system. The analysis has underlined a range of processes that affect the development and diffusion of BIPV applications including inherent technological characteristics, societal factors and wider transitions within the energy and construction sectors. Future approaches for the assessment and governance of BIPV innovation will need to address its hybrid character and disruptiveness with regards to incumbent configurations, in order to appreciate its significance over the short and long term. Methodological and conceptual findings show that the combination of insights from different analytical perspectives offers a broader understanding of the processes affecting innovation dynamics in emerging technologies. Different approaches can be used in tandem to overcome methodological weaknesses, provide different analytical perspectives and assess the performance of complex innovation systems, which may span multiple countries and sectors. By better reflecting complexities, tensions and synergies, the framework developed here offers a promising way forward for the analysis of emerging sustainable technologies.

Solar energy is an abundant renewable source, which is expected to play an increasing role in the grid's future infrastructure for distributed generation. The research described in the thesis focuses on the analysis of integrating multi-megawatt photovoltaics (PV) systems with battery energy storage into the existing grid and on the theory supporting the electrical operation of components and systems. The PV system is divided into several sections, each having its own DC-DC converter for maximum power point tracking and a two-level grid connected inverter with different control strategies. The functions of the battery are explored by connecting it to the system in order to prevent possible voltage fluctuations and as a buffer storage in order to eliminate the power mismatch between PV array generation and load demand. Computer models of the system are developed and implemented using the PSCADTM/EMTDCTM software.

Les recherches sur le photovoltaïque organique depuis une dizaine d’année ont permis une constante progression de l’efficacité des cellules solaires. Plusieurs groupes de recherche ont amorcé une réflexion sur les procédés de synthèse qui permettraient de limiter les déchets. Ainsi le couplage par arylation directe qui évite l’utilisation de dérivés organométalliques a émergé comme alternative au couplage organométallique classique. Une première partie est consacrée à l’étude méthodologique du couplage par arylation directe de la triphénylamine avec des dérivés du thiophène-2- carboxaldéhyde substitués en C3 et C4 par des groupements électro-accepteurs et électro-donneurs. Ce motif de base permet l’accès à trois séries de petites molécules par simple condensation. Des cellules photovoltaïques atteignant des rendements de photo-conversion de 3% en cellules bicouches, ont été obtenues. Dans une deuxième partie, la polymérisation par arylation directe sur des monomères du thiophène substitué par des groupements nitriles comme accepteur et des groupements alcoxy ou thioalkyl comme donneur conduit en une seule étape à une nouvelle famille de polymères conjugués. Ces polymères ont été utilisés comme matériaux donneurs et accepteur dans des cellules. Enfin en dernière partie, un travail exploratoire sur les propriétés d’émission de dérivés du benzofurane a été entrepris. Des réactions de condensation de Knoevenagel ont été développées pour obtenir toute une série de dérivés contenant l’unité cyano-vinylbenzofurane. La plupart des composés présente une forte émission à l’état solide. / Research on organic photovoltaics over a decade allowed a steadily increasing in the efficiency of solar cells. Several research groups have begun a reflection on the synthesis processes to limit wastes. Thus the direct arylation coupling which avoids the use of organometallic compounds, has emerged as an example of green reaction. The first part is devoted to the methodological study of direct arylation of bromotriphenylamine with thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde derivatives substituted in C3 and C4 by electron-withdrawing groups and electron-donor groups. This basic pattern allows access to three small molecules by condensation. Photovoltaic cells reaching photoconversion efficiencies of 3% were obtained. In the second part, the polymerization by direct arylation of sustituted thiophene monomers by nitrile groups as the acceptor and by alkoxy or thioalkyl as the donor led in one step to a novel family of conjugated polymers having donor and acceptor groups alternately. Solar cells were made with the polymers as donors or as acceptors materials. Finally, in the last part, exploratory work on the emission properties of benzofuran derivatives have been made. Knoevenagel condensations have been developed for a range of compounds containing the cyano-vinylbenzofuran unit. Most compounds have high emission in the solid state.

Polymer solar cells form a promising technology for converting sunlight into electricity, and have reached record efficiencies over 10% and lifetimes of several years. The performance of polymer solar cells depends strongly on the distribution of electron donor and acceptor materials in the active layer. To achieve longer lifetimes, degradation processes in the materials have to be understood. In this thesis, a set of complementary spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, among which soft X-ray techniques have been used to determine the morphology of polymer:fullerene based active layers. We have found that the morphology of TQ1:PC70BM films is strongly influenced by the processing solvent and the use of solvent additives. We have also found, by using soft X-ray techniques, that not only the light-absorbing polymer TQ1, but also the fullerene is susceptible to photo-degradation in air. Moreover, the fullerene degradation is accelerated in the presence of the polymer. Additionally, this thesis addresses the role of the interfacial layers for device performance and stability. The commonly used hole transport material PEDOT:PSS has the advantage of being solution processable at room temperature, but this layer is also known to contribute to the device degradation. We have found that low-temperature processed NiOx is a promising alternative to PEDOT:PSS, leading to improved device performance. Even for encapsulated polymer solar cells, some photo-induced degradation of the electrical performance is observed and is found to depend on the nature of the hole transport material. We found a better initial stability for solar cells with MoO3 hole transport layers than with PEDOT:PSS. In the pursuit of understanding the initial decrease in electrical performance of PEDOT:PSS-based devices, simulations were performed, from which a number of degradation sources could be excluded. / With the increasing global demand for energy, solar cells provide a clean method for converting the abundant sunlight to electricity. Polymer solar cells can be made from a large variety of light-harvesting and electrically conducting molecules and are inexpensive to produce. They have additional advantages, like their mechanical flexibility and low weight, which opens opportunities for novel applications. In order for polymer solar cells to be more competitive, however, both the power conversion efficiencies and lifetimes need to further improve. One way to achieve this is to optimize the morphology of the active layer. The active layer of a polymer solar cell consists of electron donating and electron accepting molecules whose distribution in the bulk of the film is a major factor that determines the solar cell performance. This thesis presents the use of complementary spectroscopy and microscopy methods to probe the local composition in the active layer of polymer solar cells. The stability of the active layer is studied and the interplay between the photo-degradation of the donor and acceptor molecules is investigated. Additionally, this thesis addresses how the interfacial layers between the active layer and the electrodes can influence device performance and stability. / <p>I publikationen felaktigt ISBN 978-91-7063-739-1</p>

The connection of high penetrations of new low carbon technologies such as PV and electric vehicles onto the distribution network is expected to cause power quality problems and the thermal capacity of feeder cables may be exceeded. Replacement of existing infrastructure is costly and so feeder cables are likely to be operated close to their hosting capacity. Network operators therefore require accurate simulation models so that new connection requests are not unnecessarily constrained. This work has reviewed recent studies and found a wide range of assumptions and approximations that are used in network models. A number of these have been investigated further, focussing on methods to specify the impedances of the cable, the impacts of harmonics, the time resolution used to model demand and generation, and assumptions regarding the connectivity of the neutral and ground conductors. The calculation of cable impedances is key to the accuracy of network models but only limited data is available from design standards or manufacturers. Several techniques have been compared in this work to provide guidance on the level of detail that should be included in the impedance model. Network modelling results with accurate impedances are shown to differ from those using published data. The demand data time resolution has been shown to affect estimates of copper losses in network cables. Using analytical methods and simulations, the relationship between errors in the loss estimates and the time resolution has been demonstrated and a method proposed such that the accuracy of loss estimates can be improved. For networks with grounded neutral conductors, accurate modelling requires the resistance of grounding electrodes to be taken into account. Existing methods either make approximations to the equivalent circuit or suffer from convergence problems. A new method has been proposed which resolves these difficulties and allows realistic scenarios with both grounded and ungrounded nodes to be modelled. In addition to the development of models, the voltages and currents in a section of LV feeder cable have been measured. The results provide a validation of the impedance calculations and also highlight practical difficulties associated with comparing simulation models with real measurement results.

Demand for cloud-based applications and remote digital storage is increasing. As such, data center capacities will need to expand to support this shift in computing. Data centers consume substantial amounts of electricity in support of their operations, and larger data centers will mean that more energy is consumed. To reduce electricity bills, data center operators must explore innovative options, and this thesis proposes leveraging solar technology for this purpose. Three different photovoltaic and concentrated photovoltaic costing scenarios, as well as four different Ontario-based electricity tariff scenarios – time-of-use, feed-in tariff, power purchase agreement, and a peak-dependent electricity charge involving the province’s global adjustment fee – will be used to determine if there is a business case for using solar technology at data centers in Ontario to reduce energy costs. Discounted net present value, return on investment, internal rate of return, and levelized cost of electricity will be calculated to determine the economic viability of solar for this application, and both deterministic and stochastic results will be provided. Sensitivity of the four metrics to variability from energy yield, operations and maintenance costs, as well as system prices will also be presented.

This doctorate thesis focuses on investigating the parameter space involved in numerically modeling the bandgap engineering of a GaInP/InGaAs/Ge lattice matched multi-junction solar cell (MJSC) using InAs/InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) in the middle sub-cell. The simulation environment – TCAD Sentaurus – solves the semiconductor equations using finite element and finite difference methods throughout well-defined meshes in the device to simulate the optoelectronic behavior first for single junction solar cells and subsequently for MJSCs with and without quantum dots under concentrated illumination of up to 1000 suns’ equivalent intensity. The MJSC device models include appropriate quantum tunneling effects arising in the tunnel junctions which serve as transparent sub-cell interconnects. These tunneling models are calibrated to measurements of AlGaAs/GaAs and AlGaAs/AlGaAs tunnel junctions reaching tunneling peak current densities above 1000 A/cm^2. Self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) are treated as an effective medium through a description of appropriate generation and recombination processes. The former includes analytical expressions for the absorption coefficient that amalgamates the contributions from the quantum dot, the InAs wetting layer (WL) and the bulk states. The latter includes radiative and non-radiative lifetimes with carrier capture and escape considerations from the confinement potentials of the QDs. The simulated external quantum efficiency was calibrated to a commercial device from Cyrium Technologies Inc., and required 130 layers of the QD effective medium to match the contribution from the QD ground state. The current – voltage simulations under standard testing conditions (1 kW/cm^2, T=298 K) demonstrated an efficiency of 29.1%, an absolute drop of 1.5% over a control structure. Although a 5% relative increase in photocurrent was observed, a 5% relative drop in open circuit voltage and an absolute drop of 3.4% in fill factor resulted from integrating lower bandgap nanostructures with shorter minority carrier lifetimes. However, these results are considered a worst case scenario since maximum capture and minimum escape rates are assumed for the effective medium model. Decreasing the band offsets demonstrated an absolute boost in efficiency of 0.5% over a control structure, thus outlining the potential benefits of using nanostructures in bandgap engineering MJSCs.

This work discusses the development of solar energy exploitation in Czech republic and partially in Germany. It contains basic definitions of terms in the area of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, fotovoltaic powrplants etc. In next part it describes development of solar systems in Czech republic and birth of legislation that regulates it. The main part of the work analyzes status quo of solar systems in Czech republic, especially in relation to continuous development of legislative environment. Equal attention is paid to solar energy evolution in Germany and its simmilarities with Czech environment. Based on these findings potential trends are outlined.