Tutorials Summary

AM Tutorials (8:30 AM – Noon)

AM1. Photovoltaics 101/201: 

1. Instructor – Dr. Jim Sites, Colorado State University
2. Synopsis – An introductory tutorial on photovoltaics will begin with the basic principles of semiconductor physics and show how they lead to the semiconductor junction and the solar cell.  Major focus will be given to the origin of a solar cell’s current-voltage curve, how to optimize the cell’s performance, and how to separate and quantify the cell’s losses.  The course is designed for those with a background in physics, chemistry, or engineering, but does not require prior experience with semiconductor devices.

AM2. Silicon Solar Cell Technology:

1. Instructor – Dr. Bill Mulligan, Sunpower Corp.
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. Si solar systems will also be addressed.

AM3. High Efficiency Multi-junction Cell Technology:

1. Instructors – Dr. Vijit Sabnis, Solar Junction and Dr. Geoff Kinsey, Amonix
2. Synopsis - This tutorial will cover the physics of high-efficiency multijunction solar cells and provide a summary of state-of-the art technological approaches.  The principles of multijunction solar cell operation and design tradeoffs for integration into high-concentration CPV systems will be discussed along with an overview of cell manufacturing and performance testing.  A survey of technologies under development for achieving cell efficiencies exceeding 40% will be presented.  
3. Additionally, will provide an overview of the state of the art and future prospects for high-concentration CPV systems. The design considerations that lead to a given system configuration will be outlined, including choice of concentration level, system size, refractive vs. reflective optical elements, thermal management tradeoffs, and system lifetime. A survey of deployed system designs will be presented, as well as analysis of field data of solar power plants deployed by Amonix to date.

AM4. 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. Synopsis - 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.

AM5. Rating PV Power and Energy: Cell, Module, and System Measurements:

1. Instructor – 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.

PM1. Thin Film Solar Cells:

1. Instructors – Dr. Bulent Basol, EncoreSolar and Alan Goodrich, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
   
2. Synopsis The tutorial will provide a background of the present state of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar cell technologies, manufacturing costs, and market opportunities.  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 costs.  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.

PM2. Organic Solar Cells: Principles and Cell Design:

1. Instructor – Dr. Sean Shaheen, University of Denver
2. Synopsis - The field of Organic Photovoltaics (OPV) has grown in the last several decades from being a laboratory novelty, with unique and interesting science but little commercial relevance, to the point now of niche consumer products entering the market. Steady growth in the last few years has resulted in certified AM1.5 efficiencies exceeding 8% at multiple laboratories around the world. 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 OPV will be reviewed, including materials design and development, mechanisms of device physics, and recent findings on charge generation, recombination, and transport. Basic models for the operation of the devices and pathways to higher efficiencies will be analyzed. Progress in understanding and mitigating material and device degradation pathways will be discussed, as will processing methods and issues for high throughput manufacturing. Lastly, the course will address attempts at economic analysis of large-scale OPV manufacturing.

PM3. Reliability: From PV Cell to Module to System:

1. Instructor – Dr. John Wohlgemuth
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.).

PM4. Future Generation Technologies:

1. Instructor: Dr. Ned Ekins-Daukes, Imperial College London, U.K.
2. Synopsis – Conventional photovoltaic devices are nearing their fundamental limits in terms of efficiency.  This tutorial will explore the foundations for future photovoltaic technologies that potentially lead to fundamentally higher efficiency photovoltaic power conversion. In the short term, the multi-junction approach represents the oldest and most established technology in this area and the current workhorse for space photovoltaic systems and increasingly terrestrial concentrator power plants.  In the medium term concepts such as up and down conversion may enable present photovoltaic technologies to be enhanced.  In the long term, completely new photovoltaic materials are being developed to support ambitious, but very high efficiency concepts such as the intermediate band solar cell and the hot carrier solar cell. The present status of the research and development of these future generation technologies will be reviewed, highlighting the outstanding challenges that remain to be addressed.

PM5. Writing a Winning Technology Proposal:

1. Instructors: Dr. James Rand and Dr. Ed Witt
2. Synopsis:  Two veterans from the PV community will review the key elements needed for a winning proposal in Solar.  Topics addressed include: how to present your company, its people, its capabilities, and its idea, what to include in your proposal, how to determine the right level of detail, how to choose your partners, and which letters of support are the most meaningful. The content should be relevant for anyone writing proposals, whether they are start-ups, mature companies, or academia.  Time will be allocated for questions and answers.  Although the focus will be on photovoltaics, the general principles will apply to solar-based projects and more. The majority of the speakers’ experiences are drawn from working with the Department of Energy.