2D simulation and performance evaluation of bifacial rear local contact c-Si solar cells under variable illumination conditions

Theodoros Katsaounis; Konstantinos Kotsovos; Issam Gereige; Ahmed Alsaggaf; Athanasios Tzavaras

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.023

2D simulation and performance evaluation of bifacial rear local contact c-Si solar cells under variable illumination conditions

Theodoros Katsaounis, Konstantinos Kotsovos, Issam Gereige, Ahmed Alsaggaf, Athanasios Tzavaras

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

A customized 2D computational tool has been developed to simulate bifacial rear local contact PERC type PV structures based on the numerical solution of the transport equations through the finite element method. Simulations were performed under various device material parameters and back contact geometry configurations in order to optimize bifacial solar cell performance under different simulated illumination conditions. Bifacial device maximum power output was also compared with the monofacial equivalent one and the industrial standard Al-BSF structure. The performance of the bifacial structure during highly diffused irradiance conditions commonly observed in the Middle East region due to high concentrations of airborne dust particles was also investigated. Simulation results demonstrated that such conditions are highly favorable for the bifacial device because of the significantly increased diffuse component of the solar radiation which enters the back cell surface.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	34-34
Number of pages	1
Journal	Solar Energy
Volume	158
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.023
State	Published - Sep 18 2017

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2019-02-13
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank prof. G. L. Stenchikov of KAUST for helpful discussions regarding measurements of turbidity values and providing those data used in this work, KAUST Economic development for their support in accessing solar radiation values for the local site and Saudi Aramco R&D Center, Carbon Management Division for their support in developing this work. We would like also to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.023

https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/bitstream/10754/625470/1/pv2D_rev.pdf

Cite this

@article{b7c00d977bbd4c1098eead8ed98a6520,

title = "2D simulation and performance evaluation of bifacial rear local contact c-Si solar cells under variable illumination conditions",

abstract = "A customized 2D computational tool has been developed to simulate bifacial rear local contact PERC type PV structures based on the numerical solution of the transport equations through the finite element method. Simulations were performed under various device material parameters and back contact geometry configurations in order to optimize bifacial solar cell performance under different simulated illumination conditions. Bifacial device maximum power output was also compared with the monofacial equivalent one and the industrial standard Al-BSF structure. The performance of the bifacial structure during highly diffused irradiance conditions commonly observed in the Middle East region due to high concentrations of airborne dust particles was also investigated. Simulation results demonstrated that such conditions are highly favorable for the bifacial device because of the significantly increased diffuse component of the solar radiation which enters the back cell surface.",

author = "Theodoros Katsaounis and Konstantinos Kotsovos and Issam Gereige and Ahmed Alsaggaf and Athanasios Tzavaras",

note = "KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2019-02-13 Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank prof. G. L. Stenchikov of KAUST for helpful discussions regarding measurements of turbidity values and providing those data used in this work, KAUST Economic development for their support in accessing solar radiation values for the local site and Saudi Aramco R&D Center, Carbon Management Division for their support in developing this work. We would like also to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions.",

year = "2017",

month = sep,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.023",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "158",

pages = "34--34",

journal = "Solar Energy",

issn = "0038-092X",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - 2D simulation and performance evaluation of bifacial rear local contact c-Si solar cells under variable illumination conditions

AU - Katsaounis, Theodoros

AU - Kotsovos, Konstantinos

AU - Gereige, Issam

AU - Alsaggaf, Ahmed

AU - Tzavaras, Athanasios

N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2019-02-13 Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank prof. G. L. Stenchikov of KAUST for helpful discussions regarding measurements of turbidity values and providing those data used in this work, KAUST Economic development for their support in accessing solar radiation values for the local site and Saudi Aramco R&D Center, Carbon Management Division for their support in developing this work. We would like also to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions.

PY - 2017/9/18

Y1 - 2017/9/18

N2 - A customized 2D computational tool has been developed to simulate bifacial rear local contact PERC type PV structures based on the numerical solution of the transport equations through the finite element method. Simulations were performed under various device material parameters and back contact geometry configurations in order to optimize bifacial solar cell performance under different simulated illumination conditions. Bifacial device maximum power output was also compared with the monofacial equivalent one and the industrial standard Al-BSF structure. The performance of the bifacial structure during highly diffused irradiance conditions commonly observed in the Middle East region due to high concentrations of airborne dust particles was also investigated. Simulation results demonstrated that such conditions are highly favorable for the bifacial device because of the significantly increased diffuse component of the solar radiation which enters the back cell surface.

AB - A customized 2D computational tool has been developed to simulate bifacial rear local contact PERC type PV structures based on the numerical solution of the transport equations through the finite element method. Simulations were performed under various device material parameters and back contact geometry configurations in order to optimize bifacial solar cell performance under different simulated illumination conditions. Bifacial device maximum power output was also compared with the monofacial equivalent one and the industrial standard Al-BSF structure. The performance of the bifacial structure during highly diffused irradiance conditions commonly observed in the Middle East region due to high concentrations of airborne dust particles was also investigated. Simulation results demonstrated that such conditions are highly favorable for the bifacial device because of the significantly increased diffuse component of the solar radiation which enters the back cell surface.

UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10754/625470

UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X17307958

U2 - 10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.023

DO - 10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.023

M3 - Article

SN - 0038-092X

VL - 158

SP - 34

EP - 34

JO - Solar Energy

JF - Solar Energy

ER -

2D simulation and performance evaluation of bifacial rear local contact c-Si solar cells under variable illumination conditions

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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