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Semi-Transparent Micro-Striped Chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells for window applications

Project description

Semi-transparent photovoltaics solution for window application

The green transition has led to an uptake of photovoltaic solutions, with building-integrated photovoltaics seeing increased demand alongside conventional systems installed on roofs and facades. The large window areas of many modern buildings present a promising location for photovoltaic installations. The EU-funded MISTICal project will develop innovative, high-efficiency, semi-transparent solar cell solutions for integration into windows. This solution will capitalise on a previously untapped area for green energy generation, allowing for immediate consumption by the end user while avoiding transport and energy loss. The project will develop a revolutionary micro-structure architecture for thin-film photovoltaics that enables micro-stripes smaller than the human eye’s resolution at a distance of over 70 cm.

Objective

While a variety of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) solutions is emerging, with conventional photovoltaic systems already installed on roofs and facades, many modern buildings consist of large areas of windows, which represent an available surface to implement semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) modules. Their implementation will permit the production of electricity, and its immediate consumption for the end-user, without problem of transport and eventual loss. Moreover, it will contribute to a better energy autonomy and independency.
The MISTiCal project aims to establish efficient semi-transparent solar cells for window applications by developing a novel micro-structured architecture for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaics and the respective fabrication processes. Using CIGS micro-stripes with a width of ~200 micrometers, they are below the resolution of the human eye at a viewing distance above 70 cm, making the window fully transparent to natural daylight.
Comparing to other STPV technologies, such as silicon, dye-sensitized (DSSC), organic solar cells (OPV), or ultra-thin CIGS, the micro-structured CIGS STPV presents a good alternative with several strengths such as its industrial maturity and its competitive cost with Si-based solar modules, high efficiency, stability and good aesthetics.
The objectives of the MISTiCal project will be (1) to optimize the CIGS device stack for the semi-transparent property, (2) to optimize the micro-structuring of CIGS to demonstrate semi-transparent solar cells, and (3) to assess the performance and the bifacial functionality of the solar cells. The overall goal is to demonstrate a power conversion efficiency of 8% at an average visible transmittance (AVT) of 50%, surpassing the present state of the art for STPV.

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Topic(s)

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-TALENTS-04

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Coordinator

INTERNATIONAL IBERIAN NANOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 195 973,20
Address
AVENIDA MESTRE JOSE VEIGA
4715-330 Braga
Portugal

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Region
Continente Norte Cávado
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost

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