Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
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Tutorials

The IEEE PVSC 35 tutorials will be held on Sunday June 20, 2010.   The tutorial topics and times are listed below.

Register for the tutorials using the normal conference registration process on this site.

 

Tutorials Summary

AM Tutorials

  1. Photovoltaics 101: 
    1. Instructor – Dr. Fred Newman, Staff Scientist at Emcore Photovoltaics and Adjunct Professor at University of New Mexico
    2. Synopsis – An introductory tutorial in photovoltaic principles and devices.  Basic semiconductor physics will be covered, with an emphasis on semiconductor junctions.  The basic current-voltage relationship for a solar cell will be derived.  Performance optimization and various loss mechanisms for the general solar cell will be discussed.  The course is designed for those with a background in physics, chemistry, and/or engineering, but not yet having a strong background in semiconductor devices.

  2. Silicon Solar Cell Technology:
    1. Instructor – Dr. Ron Sinton, Sinton Instruments
    2. Synopsis - This tutorial will look at various aspects of crystalline silicon technologies, from the silicon feedstock, through crystallization, sawing, and solar cell production. The interactions between the various stages from feedstock through the cell manufacturing process will be discussed. An emphasis will be placed on device physics as well as test and measurement strategies that are used to optimize the cell design and process optimization.

  3. High Efficiency Multi-junction Cell Technology:
    1. Instructor – Dr. Frank Dimroth, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy
    2. Synopsis - The tutorial will give a general introduction to the field of high efficiency multi-junction solar cells for the use in space and terrestrial concentrator systems. It will start from basic theoretical considerations and explain the benefits of using several pn-junctions (mainly from III-V compound semiconductors) to convert the broad solar spectrum into electricity. Some historic background of the technology development will be given. Specific requirements for the use of modern multi-junction solar cells in space and under concentrated sunlight on earth will be discussed. The most successful solar cell structures leading to > 40 % efficiency will be introduced and next generation concepts including ultra thin (~10 µm) devices will be presented.  Further topics cover: manufacturing aspects, process technology, operation of tunnel diodes, theoretical simulation and solar cell characterization.

  4. PV System Installation, Grid Integration, Permitting, etc.:
    1. Instructor – Bill Brooks PE, Brooks Engineering LLC.  Over 5,000 installers and 5,000 inspectors have taken Mr. Brooks classes.
    2. Course Content - This workshop will help the audience better understand the requirements for designing, permitting, installing, and interconnecting PV systems in utility-connected applications.  The workshop is designed for designers, engineers, architects, inspectors, and PV installers, who wish to stay informed of the latest design and code compliance issues that facilitate safe and long-lasting PV systems.  Participants will be provided with an overview of the codes and standards that govern small-scale solar electrical generation.  Primary focus is on the National Electrical Code (NEC), with a permit and inspection guideline provided to organize the permitting process.

  5. Rating PV Power and Energy: Cell, Module, and System Measurements:
    1. Instructor – Dr. Keith Emery, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    2. Synopsis - The tutorial will cover the state-of-the-art in theory, standards, procedures, and hardware used to determine the power and energy of PV cells, modules and systems.  The measurement theory for evaluating the PV power for flat-plate or concentrating single- or multi-junction PV is discussed.  Applicable ASTM, IEC and ISO standards are described along with a discussion on the plethora of sources of uncertainty in the measurements.  Merits and limitations of the standards and current practices in predicting the PV delivered are described.

 PM Tutorials

  1. Thin Film Solar Cells:
    1. Instructor – Dr. Tim Gessert, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    2. Synopsis - The tutorial will provide a background of the present state of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar cell technologies and markets within the context of expected national and global future energy requirements.  The technologies discussed will be those in present world-wide production, focusing on amorphous Silicon (a-Si), Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS), and Cadmium Telluride (CdTe).  For each technology, discussion will include historical development, present advantages and limitation, and possible future directions for improved devices and modules.  A very condensed discussion of PV device physics will be provided to establish an appreciation of material parameters that are important to related device operation.  The tutorial will also discuss advancements in related technologies that may be critical for accelerating deployment of thin-film PV products.  Examples of this include development of thin-film PV specific glass and device-specific transparent conducting oxides and buffer layers.

  2. Organic Solar Cells: Principles and Cell Design:
    1. Instructor – Dr. Paul Berger, Professor at Ohio State University
    2. Synopsis - This course will aim to bridge the knowledge and vocabulary gap between the inorganic and organic PV communities. No prior knowledge of organic chemistry is required.  The current state of organic PV will be reviewed.  Although organic solar cells have improved rapidly from very low efficiencies to moderate efficiencies of ~3-5%, the overall performance of organic solar cells is not yet high enough for commercial opportunities. Organic PV is stymied now at around 5-6% efficiency for conversion of sunlight to electricity [source: NREL]. A 10% efficiency is considered the commercial breakthrough point.  The key advantages of organic photovoltaic (PV) technology will be discussed, including the inherent lower cost of organic PV vs. inorganic semiconductors; the typically very high optical absorption coefficients (>105 cm-1) of organic materials; the compatibility with plastic substrates; and the high-throughput low temperature processes for low-cost roll-to-roll high volume manufacturing.

  3. Reliability: From PV Cell to Module to System:
    1. Instructor – Ian Aeby, Director of Quality and Reliability, Emcore Photovoltaics
    2. Synopsis - As the size and complexity of PV projects grow, device, subcomponent, module, and overall system reliability has become one of the primary considerations for assessing their economic and technical viability. This tutorial will provide a historical perspective on PV reliability across a variety of technologies and application (cSi, Thin Film, Multi-junction, CPV, Space, Terrestrial, etc.) followed by in-depth discussions of device physics, known and theoretical failure mechanisms, failure analysis techniques (LIV, DIV, EL, EBIC, TIVA, STEM, etc.), lifetime measurement and prediction models and methods (HALT, HAST, TC, DH, CE, Arrhenius, Weibull, etc.), and industry standards for product qualification (UL, IEC, Mil STD, AIAA, etc.).

  4. Novel PV Approaches:
    1. Instructor – Dr. Chris Honsburg, Professor at Arizona State University
    2. Synopsis – The purpose of this class is to review the “Third Wave” of PV, novel approaches to lower cost power generation by PV devices.  Included will be discussions of mid-band solar cells, hot carrier cells, up conversion, down conversion, etc.

  5. Photovoltaics 201:
    1. Instructor – Dr. Steve Fonash, Professor at Penn State University
    2. Synopsis – This tutorial is a more advanced class in the operating principles of solar cells.  The focus of the tutorial will be on using a free share ware PV 1D modeling program developed by Dr. Fonash.  Students will be required to provide a laptop, and a copy of Dr. Fonash’s textbook will be provided as part of the cost of this tutorial.  Topics covered will be materials properties and device physics of solar cells, homojunction and heterojunction cells, surface barrier cells, and dye sensitized cells.  There will be a higher cost for this tutorial due to the inclusion of the textbook in the tutorial materials.