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The High-Performance Photovoltaic (HiPerf PV) initiative is exploring the ultimate limits of the performance of existing PV technologies, with the aim to about double sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiencies. This project, initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy in FY2001, will substantially increase the viability of PV for cost-competitive applications. As a result, PV will be able to contribute significantly to our energy supply and our environment in the 21st century.
To accomplish HiPerf's objective, the National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) directs in-house and subcontracted research in high-performance polycrystalline thin films and multijunction concentrators. Two specific objectives of this research include:
- Bringing efficiencies for thin-film cells toward 25%, and for modules toward 20%
- Creating 33%-efficient multijunction
concentrators, that is, devices that convert more than a third of
the sun's energy to electricity.
We expect the project's three phases to steer high-efficiency technologies toward commercial, prototype products. Each phase of the project focuses on a specific approach to solving the problems associated with high efficiencies. For example, Phase I, entitled "Identifying Critical Paths," seeks to identify problems, approaches, and alliances. This phase is critical in providing a means to accelerate toward the most promising paths for implementation, followed by commercial, prototype products.
Recently, we completed the first HiPerf PV subcontract solicitation, which allows the NCPV to provide two years of funding to top-ranked companies and universities. During the project period, the alignment of critical paths, together with extensive collaboration, will produce significant contributions to the entire PV industry.
The in-house portion of the HiPerf PV research is coordinated through the following three teams:
- High-Performance Thin-Film Team– leads the investigation of tandem structures and low-flux concentrators
- High-Efficiency Concepts and
Concentrators Team– an expansion of an existing team that leads the development of high-flux concentrators
- Thin-Film Process Integration Team–will
perform fundamental process and characterization research, to
resolve the complex issues of making thin-film multijunction
devices.
In summary, the HiPerf PV Program
investigates a wide range of complex issues and provides initial
modeling and baseline experiments of several advanced concepts. This
focus will clarify the challenges and identify critical paths for
the longer-term development and application of high-performance PV
technologies. The program's established targets will be reached by
both revolutionary technology change and multiple incremental
improvements.
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