Optical approaches for passive thermal management in c-Si photovoltaic modules

Elevated operating temperatures of solar cells encapsulated in modules lead to reduced efficiency and module lifetime. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities for passive optical thermal management of PV modules based on the rejection of sub-band-gap light by idealized reflectors and scatterers applied at different interfaces within crystalline Si modules and discuss the limitations to performance at each interface. We find that the annual power-weighted average operating temperature is most readily reduced via sub-band-gap reflection from the module glass, by 3.3 K for Al-BSF modules and 2.9 K for PERC modules with 100% sub-band-gap reflection. Sub-band-gap reflection at the cell interface offers up to 2.2 K (1.8 K) temperature reduction for Al-BSF (PERC) modules, increased cell rear reflection offers up to 1.2 K temperature reduction, and directional scattering offers up to 1.5 K reduction.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), University of Minnesota (UMN)

Ian M. Slauch and Michael G. Deceglie and Timothy J. Silverman and Vivian E. Ferry

Cell Reports Physical Science

photovoltaics,solar energy,spectrally selective structures,thermal management

2021

5

10.1016/J.XCRP.2021.100430

26663864

5

Cell Press

2