SolarPV

Question 2

Solar PV Drivers

Answer 2

Abundant Supply, net metering, clean energy, rps compliance and feed in tariff compliance, modular and simple, high value timing\

Question 3

Solar PV Barriers

Answer 3

site specific, intermittent, design could improve, production costs, installation costs

Question 4

Solar PV Trends

Answer 4

world market grew by 74% in 2011, trend towards large scale solar plants, costs declining,

Question 5

Collector Types

Answer 5

flat,concentrating, stationary, single-axis, 2-axis

Question 6

Materials

Answer 6

Bulk (single-crystal & Multi-crystalline), Thin Films (deposited on glass, stainless steel)

Question 7

Device Types

Answer 7

Single Junction, MultiJunction, 3rd gen

Question 8

Applications

Answer 8

Grid-connected vs off-grid, power plants,

Question 9

Brief History

Answer 9

first cell (1954), explosion of PV for telecom use (1980)

Question 10

BOS

Answer 10

Balance of System, from the ground up everything that makes it work (cell to structure to inverter)

Question 11

How is electricity created?

Answer 11

p-type, n-type doping creates holes in silicon layers, sunlight makes electrons fill holes, electric field is needed to get e-

Question 12

How are semiconductors created?

Answer 12

crystals are grown. Single (CZ process), Multi (cast in blocks, thin sheets), Thin Film (amorphous silicon)

Question 13

Losses in the Semiconductor production process

Answer 13

33% loss as sawdust in the cutting process

Question 14

Amorphous Silicon

Answer 14

one of the thin film technologies, deposits on glass,

Question 15

non silicon thin cell options

Answer 15

copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS)

Question 16

Silicon vs Thin Film

Answer 16

crystalline (established, moderately efficient, but expensive, losses), thin film (non silicon, novel designs, but more expensive, less efficient)

Question 17

What determines PV Efficiency

Answer 17

tradeoff between current and voltage

Question 18

Multi-junction cells?

Answer 18

capture light more optimally by having multiple layers to capture more light wavelengths, more expensive (duh)

Question 19

Concentrating PV

Answer 19

can achieve higher cell efficiences, but not necessarily higher overall efficiencies

Question 20

Typical Efficiences (5)

Answer 20

Mono-crystalline (18%), Multi-crystalline (15%), Amorphous (6%), Cadmium Telluride (10%), CIGS (8%)

Question 21

Novel Technologies (3)

Answer 21

3rd gen, organic, quantum dot, dye sensitized

Question 22

Applications of Solar PV (2)

Answer 22

On-Grid, Off-Grid

Question 23

On-Grid Apps of Solar PV

Answer 23

Utility Scale (central power plants, distributied gen “behind meter”), Grid-connected residential + commercial

Question 24

Off-Grid Apps of Solar PV

Answer 24

Urban Industrial/Municipal (Buidling Integrated PV), Remote Industrial/Inhabited, Personal

Question 25

Economics of PV

Answer 25

Initial Costs offset by Incentives, Financing offset by Performance

Question 26

PV Value Proposition

Answer 26

its not just about cost, value is boosted by when and where it is located, dropping module cost (about 50% of total solar pv cost)

Question 27

Global Trends

Answer 27

74% increase, US is #5, generated $100billion in revenue

Question 28

US Trends

Answer 28

PV market grew >100% in 2011 driven by decline in module price and solar incentives,

Question 29

Where in the US is Solar PV?

Answer 29

CA, NJ, Arizona,

Question 30

How does the government support growth of PV in US?

Answer 30

Federal Tax Incentives, RPS & RECs, State incentives, FiT

Question 31

PV Environmental Issues (3)

Answer 31

Manufacturing (Chem, Haz, Waste, Use), Installation, End of Life

Question 32

EPBT of PV

Answer 32

Energy Payback Time of PV is 1-3 years (most for single crystalline, least for cadmium telluride)

Question 33

How much land would be needed for all US Need

Answer 33

10 million acres (0.4% of US)