ChEnected caught up with Siddharth Singh, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota - Duluth, who is studying Engineering Management and completed an economic analysis in the field of laterally integrated photovoltaic (PV) devices. Watch the interview we did with him at the E3 2010 Conference in the video located in the right panel.
A new hybrid solar cell design is being developed that retains the low cost of thin-film devices but adds an inexpensive holographic concentrator that will enable thin-film devices to work together to make efficient use of the entire solar spectrum. The design is scalable and, importantly, compatible with continuing advances in photovoltaic thin-film materials. In fact, a new architecture for solar cell photovoltaics with a new level of performance, manufacturability, and cost effectiveness is being developed. To accomplish this, the program is addressing cell modeling, optical design, optical testing, device fabrication, and manufacturing costs. The presentation focuses more on the manufacturing costs and sustainability analysis.