CALLFORPAPERS

TechnicalProgram

THE43rdIEEEPHOTOVOLTAICSPECIALISTSCONFERENCE

June5-10,2016PortlandConventionCenter

Portland,Oregon,USA

Abstractdeadline:January22,2016

CallforPapersOnbehalfof theTechnicalProgramCommittee, I amhonored to inviteyou to submit anabstract on your latest achievements in photovoltaic (PV) research, development, andapplicationstothe43rdIEEEPVSC.ThePVSCendeavorstocoverallaspectsofPVscienceand technology, and caters to the full spectrumof knowledge and innovation frombasicsciencetoelectricitydeliveredtothecustomer.PVSCaimstobeahighlyinteractivevenueforbothseasonedPVexpertsaswellasentry-levelprofessionals/students.Theconferenceprovides a unique opportunity tomeet, share and discuss PV-related developments in atimely and influential forum. Please contribute to the PVSC's tradition as a premierinternationalconferenceonthescienceandtechnologythatcancontributetowardaworldpoweredlargelybyPVsystems.Tohaveyourpaperconsideredforpresentationatthe43rdPVSC,pleasesubmit1. A3-pageevaluationabstract(forreview,notforposting)and2. Ashortabstractofnomorethan300wordsinlengthfordisplayonthePVSCwebsite.

Evaluation abstracts are expected to be detailed enough to allow a thorough technicalreview. Please follow the suggested format, a template has been provided at theconferencewebsiteforyourconvenience.Abstractsubmissionisviathe43rdPVSCwebsiteat http://www.ieee-pvsc.org. Please log in by using your user name and password andcarefullyfollowtheinstructionsprovidedtouploadyourabstractsuccessfully.Thisyear’scallincludesseveralcrosscuttingthemesthatspanacrosstraditionalPVSCtechnicalareasandarereferencedassubareasthatarejointtoseveralareas.Whensubmittinganabstractin response to these topics please select the Area that best fits the nature of theinvestigationproposedinyourabstract.WearealsocontinuingtheoptionofofferingauthorswhosubmitparticularlyhighqualityPVSCreviewabstracts(seebelow),asevaluatedbytheprogramcommittee,anopportunityto directly submit a manuscript to the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics. This path allowsauthorstobringtheirpeerreviewedjournalqualityresearchtothePVSCandenjoyboththePVSCconferenceexperienceaswellaspublishingtheirworkinahighimpactjournal.The deadline for electronic submission of the abstracts is January 22nd, 2016 atmidnightPacificStandardTime(UTC-8hours).ContributingauthorswillbenotifiedoftheacceptancestatusoftheirpapersafterMarch11,2016.Forvisaapplications,aninvitationletterwillbeissuedatthattime.Wewillalsoaskauthorstoconfirmthattheywillbeableto present theirwork at the conference and upload theirmanuscript by the due date ofJune1,2016forpublicationintheconferenceproceedings.Onbehalfof theTechnicalProgramCommitteeI lookforwardtowelcomingandmeetingwithyouatthePVSC-43inPortland,Oregon!

SarahKurtz,ProgramChair,43rdIEEE-PVSC

GuidancefromIEEEJournalofPVforpeer-reviewedpublication

TheprocesstoproposeapresentationatthePVSCalongwithapaperinIEEEJournalofPVissimple.First,anextendedabstractissubmittedthatdescribestheresearchapproachbyJanuary22,2016.ThisabstractisthenreviewedbythePVSCprogramcommittee.IfitisacceptedyouwillbeaskedtosubmittherequiredfinalpaperbyJune1,2016.AnattractivefeatureofthePVSCmeetingisthatallsubmittedpaperswillbeindexedandarchived on the IEEE Explore site. Most of these papers will be published in theProceedingsofthe43rdPVSCwithonlyfinalreviewforadherencetostylerequirements.Asmall number of papers will be invited to directly submit to the IEEE Journal ofPhotovoltaicsforpossiblepublicationinthisarchival,peer-reviewedjournal(ImpactFactor=3.165).EachsubmittedpaperwillbeprocessedthroughthenormalJ-PVreviewprocessas if it were an unsolicited manuscript. If accepted, the paper will appear in the nextavailableissueofthejournal.Note:boththereviewprocessandthefinalpublishedpaperwillnothaveanystatedaffiliationwiththeconference.Ifthepaperisnotaccepted,thenitwill be published in theProceedings of the 43rd PVSC, hopefully improved by the reviewprocess, and archived on the IEEE Explore site. It is believed that providing theopportunity to publish either a proceedings paper or a full journal manuscript willencouragethecommunitytopresenttheirverybestworkatthePVSC. ItisalsobelievedthatthispolicywillensurethecontinuedtechnicalexcellenceofthePVSC.AtthetimeofsubmittingyourextendedabstractyouwillhavetheopportunitytoindicateifyouwishyourpapertobeconsideredforpublishinginIEEEJournalofPhotovoltaics. Ifyouindicateassuch, theprogramcommitteewillevaluateyourabstractonitssuitabilityfor J-PV and recommendation for submission. The list of recommendedpaperswill alsoundergoareviewbytheeditorialboard,whichcouldincludesuggestionofsubmissiontoarelated IEEE journal, for thosepapers thatmightbebettersuited in thatway. J-PV isapeer-reviewed,archivalpublicationreportingoriginalandsignificantresearchresultsthatadvance the field of photovoltaics (see the J-PVwebsite for furtherdetails on the scope:http://eds.ieee.org/images/files/Publications/jpv_info_for_authors.pdf). In past yearsapproximately 10 % of the submitted papers have had sufficiently significant researchresultstowarrantpublicationinthejournal,althoughthe%variedconsiderablybyarea.IfyouareinvitedtosubmitaJ-PVpaperandchoosetodoso,youwillsubmitthesamepaperdirectlytotheJ-PVwebsiteandtothePVSCwebsite.TimothyAnderson,Editor,IEEEJournalofPhotovoltaics

ProgramCommitteeandTechnicalAreas

ProgramChairSarahKurtz(NationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory)

DeputyProgramChairSethHubbard(RochesterInstituteofTechnology)

Area1.FundamentalsandNewConceptsforFutureTechnologiesSethHubbard(RochesterInstituteofTechnology)

Area2.ChalcogenideThinFilmSolarCellsSylvainMarsillac(OldDominionUniversity)

Area3.CPVDanielDerkacs(SolAero)Area4.SiliconPhotovoltaicMaterialsandDevicesMarianaBertoni(ArizonaStateUniversity)

Area5.CharacterizationMethodsMarinaLeite(Univ.ofMaryland)

Area6.PerovskiteandOrganicSolarCellsJoeyLuther(NREL)

Area7.SpaceandSpecialtyTechnologiesDavidWilt(AirForceResearchLaboratory)

Area8.PVModules,Manufacturing,SystemsandApplicationsDanaOlson(DOE)

Area9.PVandSystemReliabilityCharlieHasselbrink(SunPowerCorporation)

Area10.PowerElectronicsandGridIntegrationChrisDeline(NREL)

Area11.SolarResourceforPVandForecastingSkipDise(CleanPowerResearch)

Area12.PVDeploymentandSustainabilityAnnickAnctil(MichiganStateUniversity)

Area13.SpecialSessiononPVReportingAccuracy:PVMythBusters!AshrafAlam(PurdueUniversity)

43rdIEEEPVSCKeynoteandPlenarySpeakers:

Area1:VictorIvanovichKlimov,LosAlamosNationalLaboratory

“EngineeredQuantumDotsinSolarEnergyConversion:PhotovoltaicsandBeyond”

Dr.VictorI.KlimovisafellowofLosAlamosNationalLaboratoryanddirectoroftheCenterforAdvancedSolarPhotophysics.Thefocusofhisresearchisonphotophysicalpropertiesanddeviceapplicationsofsemiconductornanocrystals.

Area2:IngridRepins,NationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory

“Wildbandedges:Theroleofbandgapgradingandpotentialfluctuationsinmakinghigh-efficiencychalcogenidedevices”

Dr.RepinsisaseniorscientistattheNationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory,whereshehasbeenprincipalinvestigatorforworkrelatedtokesterites,CIGS,andmoduleperformance.Shehasbeendelightedtoparticipate,over25+years,inthetransformationofchalcogenidedevicesfrommysteriousgooponaslidetomanygigawattsdeployed.

Area3:GeoffreyKinsey,DepartmentofEnergy

“CPVinthenextdecade:zombieorsuperhero?”

GeoffreyS.KinseyisatechnicaladvisorintheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy'sSolarEnergyTechnologiesOfficeinvolvedinPVR&D,codesandstandards,andservicelifetime.HehasovereightypublicationsandholdsaB.S.fromYaleUniversityandaPh.D.fromtheUniversityofTexasatAustin.

Area4:PierreVerlinden,TrinaSolar

“Massproductionofhigh-efficiencyp-typePERCsolarcell:howhighcanwego?”

Dr.PierreVerlindenisVice-PresidentandChiefScientistatTrinaSolar,Changzhou,China.HeisalsoVice-ChairoftheStateKeyLaboratoryofPVScienceandTechnologyatTrinaSolarandadjunctProfessoratSunYat-SenUniversity,Guangzhou.Hehasbeeninvolvedwiththedevelopmentofhigh-efficiencySiliconsolarcellsformorethan35years.HeholdsM.S.andPhDdegreesinElectricalEngineeringfromtheCatholicUniversityofLouvain,Belgium.

Area5:ThorstenTrupke,UniversityofNewSouthWales

“ProgresswithPhotoluminescenceCharacterisationinPhotovoltaics”

ThorstenTrupkeisasemiconductorphysicistwithmorethan15years’experienceinresearchanddevelopmentinthePVsector,withemphasisonnovelcharacterizationmethods.ThorstenisaProfessorattheSchoolforPhotovoltaicandRenewableEnergyEngineeringattheUniversityofNewSouthWalesandalsoco-founderandCTOofBTImaging,aUNSWstart-upcompanythatcommercializesphotoluminescenceimaginginspectionsystems.

Area6:MichaelGraetzel,EcolePolytechniqueFédéraledeLausanne“Mesoscopicphotovoltaicsandperovskitesolarcells”ProfessorattheEcolePolytechniqueFédéraledeLausanne(EPFL)inSwitzerlandwherehedirectsthelaboratoryofphotonicsandinterfacesMichaelGraetzelistheinventorifmesoscopicsolarcells,whoseproductionhasalreadyreachedthemulti-megawattscaleandwhichhaveengenderedperovskitesolarcells-oneofthecurrentmostexcitingdevelopmentsinphotovoltaics.

Area7:GregoryCarr,JetPropulsionLab

“End-To-EndSystemLevelTradeConsiderationsforDeepSpacePVSystems”

GregCarrisaPowerSystemEngineerforPowerandSensorSystemsSection346atJPL.Hisprimaryresponsibilityisthedevelopmentofnewpowersystemarchitectures.HerecentlyservedastheAvionicsPowerChiefEngineerontheMarsScienceLaboratory(MSL),whichisaradioisotopepoweredroverdesignedforthesurfaceofMars.GregiscurrentlyamemberoftheNASAEngineeringandSafetyCenter(NESC)ElectricalPowerTechnicalDisciplineTeam(TDT).Greghasover20yearsofexperienceinpowerelectronicsdesignandpowersystemengineering.HestartedhiscareerdesigningthepowercontrolandpowerdistributioninterfaceforCassini.GreghasaBSEEdegreefromUCLA..

Area8:ThomasReindl,SolarEnergyResearchInstituteofSingapore

“LCOEreductionofPVelectricity–doestechnologystillmatter?”

Dr.ReindlistheDeputyCEOoftheSolarEnergyResearchInstituteofSingapore(SERIS),DirectoroftheSolarEnergySystemsclusteratSERISandaPrincipalResearchFellowattheNationalUniversityofSingapore.HestartedwithPVbackin1992attheSiemensCorporateR&DLabsandhasPVindustryexperienceinbothAsiaandGermany.HeisinvitedmemberofthescientificadvisorycommitteeoftheChinaStateKeyLaboratoryofPVScienceandTechnology,theSPRINGTechnologyEnterpriseCommercialisationprogramevaluationcommitteeandtheSingaporeGreenBuildingCouncil.

Area9:ChristianHagendorf,Fraunhofer–CenterforSilicon-PhotovoltaicsCSP

“PotentialInducedDegradation(PID)ofp-typesilicon:Howatomisticdefectscancausemoduledegradation”

Dr.ChristianHagendorfisheadoftheresearchgroup“DiagnosticsofSolarCells”atFraunhoferCenterforSiliconPhotovoltaicsCSP,Germany.HeobtainedhisPhDatMartin-Luther-UniversityHalle-Wittenberg,Germanyinthefieldofsurfaceandinterfaceanalysisofsemiconductormaterials.HejoinedFraunhoferCSPin2007andestablishedaresearchgroupfocussedondefectdiagnosticsincrystallineandthinfilmphotovoltaics.Researchactivitiesrelyonoptical,electrical,microstructuralandtraceelementalcharacterizationofsolarcellsandmodules.

Area10GregBall,DNVGL “RooftopPVSystemsandFirefighterSafety”Greg Ball is a Principal Engineer at DNV-KEMA Renewables, Inc. (DNV GL), and serves as principal investigator and consultant on projects focusing on PV system design, components, performance, codes and standards, and grid interconnection. He has worked in the PV industry since 1990.

Area11JanKleissl,UniversityofCalifornia,SanDiego“SolarEnergyForecastingAdvancesandImpactsonGridIntegration”ProfessorJanKleisslreceivedhisPhDfromtheJohnsHopkinsUniversityin2004andisnowatUCSanDiego,whereheistheAssociateDirectoroftheCenterforEnergyResearch.HisresearchgroupfocusesonSolarEnergyMeteorologyincludingforecastinganddistributionsystemmodeling.

Area12StefanNowak,IEAPVPS“IEAPVPS–Globalco-operationtowardssustainabledeploymentofphotovoltaicpowersystems”StefanNowakdidhisPhDinthermonuclearfusionatEcolePolytechniqueFédéraledeLausanne(EPFL)inSwitzerland.Hisbiographyischaracterizedbyacontinuousevolutionfromresearchtotechnologymanagementwithparticularemphasisonphotovoltaics.Heisstronglyinvolvedinresearchandinnovationmanagementaswellasinternationalco-operationandservesaschairmantotheIEAPVPSProgramme.

Area1:FundamentalsandNewConceptsforFutureTechnologies

Chair: SethHubbard,RochesterInstituteofTechnology,USA

Co-Chairs: GavinConnibeer,UniversityofNewSouthWales,Australia AntonioMarti,UniversidadPolitecnicadeMadrid,Spain

PeichenYu,NationalChiaoTungUniversity,Taiwan AreaDescriptionParadigmshifts insolarcelltechnologyareinvariablyprecededbybreakthroughsarisingfrombasicscientificresearch.Inrecentyears,therehavebeenanumberofexcitingresultsinthefundamentalarena,includingthedemonstrationoftwo-photonabsorptionprocessesin nanostructured solar cell devices, and sophisticated optical management designsresulting in world record single-junction and dual-junction cell efficiencies. Area 1comprisesfundamentalresearchandnoveldeviceconceptsthatwillprovideaplatformforthe development of future photovoltaic technologies. Papers are sought describingresearchinbasicphysical,chemicalandopticalphenomena, inadditiontostudiesofnewmaterialsandinnovativedevicedesigns.Subjectsofparticularinterestinclude,butarenotlimitedto,nanostructures,hybridorganic-inorganicdevices,advancedopticalmanagementapproaches, new materials and synthesis processes, and unconventional conversionmechanisms.Sub-Area1.1:FundamentalConversionMechanismsSub-AreaChair: LouiseHirst(NavalResearchLaboratory)

Sub-Area1.1 capturesboth experimental and theoreticalwork exploringnewparadigmsfor solar energy conversion. Papers submitted to this sub-area would explore thefundamental physics or present initial experimental demonstrations related to novelenergy conversion mechanisms. Papers on modeling and simulation of new devicearchitectures to enable these conversion mechanisms are also encouraged. Areas ofinterestinclude,butarenotlimitedto,non-conventionalPVconversionprocessesbasedonquantumconfinedornanostructured systems, engineeredbandalignments, intermediatebandconcepts,multipleexcitongeneration(MEG),thermophotonicsorhot-carriereffects.Also of interest are concepts and demonstration of newmaterials and material sciencerelated to energy conversion. Finally, cross cutting science approaches involving novelphysics,innovativedevicestructures,andmodelingandsimulationaresolicited.Sub-Area1.2:Quantum-well,Wire,andDot-ArchitecturedDevicesSub-AreaChair: ChristopherBailey(OldDominionUniversity)

Sub-Area1.2focusesonthebandgapengineeringofphotovoltaicdevicesviatheinclusionofquantumstructures,andthescienceinvolvedinthephotogeneration,recombinationandcarrier transportmechanisms in thesedevices.This isaparticularlyexciting time in thistechnicalareaasthesenovelarchitecturesareatthecuttingedgeofphotovoltaicresearch.Suchdevicedesignsofferamultitudeofrealistictechnologicalpathstoattainingsolarcellswithefficiencyinexcessof50%.Tocontinuethemomentuminthefield,papersaresoughton both the theoretical and experimental progress in the development of quantum-structured materials and devices. Submissions including novel designs, new material

compositions,implementationofnewusesofquantumconfinement,andtheexploitationofvaryingdimensionalityofconfinementareencouraged.Idealsubmissionswillrangefromstudiesoffundamentalphysicstoexamplesofworkingdevices.Sub-Area1.3:HybridOrganic/InorganicSolarCells(JointbetweenTopicAreas1&6)Sub-AreaChair: GergelyZimanyi(UniversityofCaliforniaDavis)

JointSub-Areas1.3and6.3coverprogressonthedevelopmentofhybridsolarcellsbasedonthecombinationofmultiplenovelmaterials,suchasorganicsemiconductors,colloidalnanomaterials (nanocrystal quantum dot, nanorod, nanowires, nanotubes) or conceptsfromsensitizedsolarcells*.Thisclassofdevices isrootedinnanostructuredTiO2orZnOintegrated with conjugated polymers (P3HT), but is rapidly expanding to include manyother organic and inorganic materials including single and polycrystalline Si and GaAs,organicsmallmolecules,nanostructuredcarbonallotropessuchascarbonnanotubesandgraphene, as well as colloidal nanostructures including quantum wires, rods, and dots.Hybridsolarcellsaredesignedtoexploittheuniqueinterfacialelectronicpropertiesattheorganic-inorganic boundary. Papers are sought that leverage the unique electronic andoptical properties and functionality afforded by integrating organic and inorganicmaterials,and thatutilizequantumconfinednanostructures toenhancecharge transportandfine-tunethespectralsensitivityrange.(*)SubmityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigationSub-Area1.4:AdvancedLightManagementandSpectralShapingSub-AreaChair: JeremyMunday(UniversityofMaryland)

In order to achieve high power conversion efficiency, a solar cellmust effectively utilizemost of the incident solar spectrum. This process involves the efficient coupling of theincidentlightintothesolarcellwithminimumlossandthemosteffectiveuseoftheenergyimparted by each photon. This sub-areawill focus on novel concepts for advanced anti-reflection coatings, spectrum splitting, textured light trapping surfaces, luminescent(fluorescence)andnano-scaleconcentratorsystems,andadvancedphotonicandplasmonicstructures.Withrespect toplasmonics,both light trappingandhotcarriereffectswillbeconsidered. In addition, ways to modify the spectrum of the incident sunlight usingtechniques such as up and down conversion either in planar layers or in waveguidestructures will be considered. Papers submitted to this sub-area should address one ormoreofthesethemesandmaybetheoreticalorexperimentalinnature.Sub-Area1.5:NovelMaterialSystemsSub-AreaChair: IanSellers(UniversityofOklahoma)

Sub-Area 1.5 covers progress on the development of novel inorganic materials andprocessing techniques for improving the performance, functionality, reliability, andscalabilityofPVdevices.Suchmaterials,combinations,andprocessesmayfindapplicationinsingle-crystalline,thinfilm,multijunction,andnanostructuredPVdevicesormayenablean entirely new device class on their own. Papers are sought that describe theoreticaland/orexperimentaldevelopmentofmaterialsdisplayingnovelproperties, includingbutnotlimitedtosemiconductors,substrates,coatings,barriers,transparentconductiveoxides

(TCOs), pseudomorphic and metamorphic photovoltaic materials. Developments in thefield of graphene and carbon nanotubes are of interest in this sub-area. Advances ingrowth,synthesis,deposition,dopingandpassivationschemesaswellasnewarchitecturesthathavethepotentialtolowermaterialqualityconstraintsarealsosolicited.Sub-Area1.6:ApproachesforLow-CostIII-VBasedPVTechnologies:AlternativeSubstrates,Low-CostEpitaxy,andBonding(JointbetweenTopicAreas1,3,4and7)Sub-AreaChair: TylerGrassman(OhioStateUniversity)

Thissub-areaisbeingjointlysponsoredbetweenAreas1,3,4and7.*Topicsofinterestarebroadlydefinedastechnologiesandapproachesrelatedtotheachievementoflow-costIII-V materials and solar cells, including the use of alternative substrates, low-costgrowth/depositionmethods,andbonding.Papersaresolicitedonthegrowthofcrystallineandpoly-crystalline III-Vmaterials on alternative substrates (i.e. not single-crystalGeorIII-V),suchasSi,engineeredmetalfoils,andpolycrystallinetemplates.Therelatedtopicsofinterfaceanddefectcharacterization,aswellasdefectreduction,inhighlymismatchedandheterovalent epitaxial growth are of interest. Additionally, new cell designs andarchitectures for III-Vmaterials on alternate substrates, such as active Si ("Si-plus"), aretargeted for this sub-area. Papers are also sought on low-cost III-V growth/depositiontechniques, such asHVPE andultra-high-rateOMVPE/MOCVD. Papers onwafer/epilayerbondingapproachesarealsosolicited.(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation._______________________________________________

Area2:ChalcogenideThinFilmSolarCellsChair: SylvainMarsillac,OldDominionUniversity,USA

Co-Chairs: LorelleMansfield,NREL,USA CharlottePlatzer-Björkman,UppsalaUniversity,Sweden

TakashiMinemoto,RitsumeikanUniversity,JapanAreadescriptionArea 2 of the 43rd IEEE PVSC continues a long tradition of meetings that focus on thescienceandtechnologyofthinfilmsolarcellsbasedonchalcogenidematerials.WeinvitecontributionsdiscussingsolarcellsbasedonCu(InGa)Se2,Cu2ZnSn(Se)4,CdTe,andrelatedmaterials. These materials include the highest efficiency thin film solar cells, now over21%. The aim of Area 2 is to provide a platform for presenting recent and on-goingresearch leading to improved understanding of materials and devices, exploring newdirectionsformoreefficientproduction,andnarrowingthegapbetweencellandmoduleefficiencies. Topics range from novel insights into the basic material science, study ofdevicepropertiesandnewdevicestructures,anddiscussionoftheprogressindepositionmethods and growth control, including issues associatedwith reliability.We are lookingforwardtoanexcitingconferencewithfruitfuldiscussions.Sub-Area2.1:AbsorberPreparationandMaterialPropertiesSub-AreaChairs: AlexRedinger(UniversityofLuxembourg)

MikeScarpulla(UniversityofUtah)

Subarea 2.1 addresses progress in understanding the nature of chalcogenide thin filmformation and the influence of processing on basic material properties and deviceperformance. Relevant aspects include:morphology, microstructure, opto-electronic andtransportproperties, influenceof substrate, phase contents, compositional gradients andhomogeneity, the effect ofmaterial purity/contaminants, how these are interrelated andaffectedbythedepositionprocess itself,andwhattheir impactonPVperformanceis.Animportant topic is theeffectof thedepositionprocesson thesurface/interface formationwith respect to the PV device. Furthermore, the development of growth models andnumericalsimulationsofindividualmaterialaspectsareofhighrelevanceforthissubarea.Sub-Area2.2:Contacts,Buffers,SubstratesandInterfacesSub-AreaChairs: TimothyGessert(NREL)

VikashRanjan(NSG)

Inthechalcogenidetechnologies, thecompositionandprocessingof thebuffersandbackcontactshavesignificanteffectsonthedeviceproperties.Submissionsdescribingadvancesin understanding the function of buffer layers and contacts and their impact on deviceperformanceandstability,aswellasnovelmaterialsandprocessingarewelcome.Progressin understanding the fundamental properties of these materials is encouraged.We alsosolicitpapersonprogressinthecrosscuttingareasoftransparentconductorsaswindowsandmoisturebarriersandofneworimprovedsubstrates.

Sub-Area2.3:DeviceCharacterizationandModelingSub-AreaChair: JamesSites,(ColoradoStateUniversity)

Subarea 2.3 addresses the device operation and defect characterization of chalcogenidesolar cells. Contributionsmay focuson:measurementandanalysis that elucidatedeviceoperation, one-, two- and three-dimensional modeling that gives guidance for furtherexperimental exploration and performance improvement, defect characterization andinfluencefromdefectsondeviceproperties.Sub-Area2.4:ManufacturingProgressSub-AreaChair: WilliamN.Shafarman(IEC)

InSubarea2.4,wesolicitcontributionsaddressingmodulemanufacturability.Emphasisison the importance of cost and reliability (in addition to performance) as keydrivers fordeveloping a viable, thin-film module manufacturing capability. We encourage thecommunity to share their experience and knowledge in areas focused on reducing thecost/watt of PV modules including higher throughput/yield and more energy and cost-effectiveprocessing, improvements in thin-filmuniformity, improvedcell integrationandmodule architectures, important quality control metrology/diagnostics and informationmanagement applied during semiconductor deposition, integration, packaging, andreliability testing. Papers are also sought in the area of cell and module reliability, inparticular field and laboratory-test procedures and results, qualification testing,degradationmechanisms,andtransientbehavior._______________________________________________

Area3:CPVAreaChair: DanielDerkacs,SolAero,USA

Co-Chairs: JimForesi,Suncore,China ScottBurroughs,Semprius,USAAreaDescriptionArea3primarily focusesonthescience,engineering,performance,cost,andreliabilityofconcentratorphotovoltaicsystems(CPV)rangingfromhighconcentration(>300suns)tolow concentration (>1 sun). III-V multijunction solar cells have been the basis forterrestrialhigh-concentrationphotovoltaicsystemsandpapersthataddressallaspectsofcelldesignarewelcome.PapersaddressingthecostofIII-Vdevicesandworkbeingdonetoreduce costwhilemaintainingperformanceareparticularlywelcome.Area3also coversCPV system development including primary and secondary optical design, solar cellreceivers,modulecomponents,trackers,modules.LowandmediumconcentratorsystemsthatemployhighefficiencysiliconsolarcellsarealsocoveredinArea3.AjointsessionwillbeheldonPVdesignedforUAVsandotherportableapplications.Thisisin response to a host of companies that have announced plans to provide internet viacontinuousflightsolarpoweredUAVsand/ordirigibles.Asecondjointsessionwillbeheldon low cost III-V, mixed III-V on silicon, and other low-cost alternative substratearchitectures for terrestrial,CPV,satellite,orUAVapplications.Finally,a jointsessiononthecharacterizationof III-Vorothersinglecrystallinephotovoltaicmaterialsanddeviceswillbehosted.Sub-Area3.1:SolarCells–modeling,epitaxialgrowth,materials,waferbonding,coatings,processing,performance,reliabilitySub-AreaChair: MylesSteiner(NREL)

TanerBilir(SolarJunction)

This sub-area coversall aspectsof thedevelopmentof III-Vmulti-junction solar cells forterrestrialapplications.This includes (but isnot limited to):epitaxialgrowth, theoreticalmodeling, material development, solar cell architectures, photon management, newmanufacturing technologies, device processing, wafer bonding, processing,characterization,andreliability.Sub-Area3.2:LowerCostIII-VSolarCellDevices–epitaxialgrowth,substratere-use,epitaxiallift-off,laserlift-off,spalling,porousGe,etc.Sub-AreaChair: BrendanKayes(AltaDevices) RyanFrance(NREL)

Thissub-areacoversthecostofIII-VdevicesandeffortsbeingmadetoreducethecostofpowergeneratedbyIII-Vdevices.Topicsincludenoveldevicedesigns,alternativegrowthsubstrates and templates, lower cost growth and deposition, processing, testing, andintegration technologies, and any other efforts being made to reduce the cost of III-Vdeviceswhilemaintainingdeviceperformance.

Sub-Area3.3:HighConcentrationSystems–solarcells,receivers,optics,modules,systems,performancemodeling,LCOE,reliabilitySub-AreaChairs: MarcSteiner(Fraunhofer-InstitutfürSolareEnergiesystemeISE)

SteveAskins(UniversidadPolitecnicadeMadrid)

This sub-area covers all research anddevelopment aspects of high-concentration (>300suns)photovoltaicmodulesandsystems.PapersareexpectedinthefieldofCPVmodules,primary and secondary optics, system components, solar cell receivers, trackers, powerplants, power rating, reliability, bankability, cost prediction, project development andfinancing, as well as aspects of grid integration and storage. Combined heat and powersystemsandnewapplicationsofCPVinbuildings,ruralelectrificationorfortheproductionofhydrogenarewelcome.Reliability isanimportantaspectforthisemergingindustryaswell asmarket development, financing, power prediction, industry standards, balance ofsystems(BOS)andinstallation-relatedissues.Inaddition,innovativedesignsthatenableatleastpartialoperationoncloudydaysand/orincludesomestoragecapabilityaresolicited.Sub-Area3.4:LowandmediumconcentrationPV–Siconcentratorcells,III-Vsolarcells,receivers,optics,modules,systems,performancemodeling,LCOE,reliabilitySub-AreaChair: SimoneMissirian(SpaceSystemsLoral)

Thissub-areacoversboththeengineeringofsolarcells(Si,III-V,orother)forapplicationsinthe2-300xrange,aswellasallaspectsofthemoduleandsystemcomponents.One-axistracking is sufficient for many low concentration CPV systems. Improvements and/orreports on promising alternative approaches are also welcome. The challenge is to findconfigurations which lead to cost reduction compared to conventional flat-plate PV. Inaddition, innovativedesigns that enableat leastpartialoperationon cloudydaysand/orincludesomestoragecapabilityaresolicited.Sub-Area3.5:OpticalDesignsandConceptsSub-AreaChair: RalfLeutz(LeutzOpticsandIlluminationUG)

This sub-area covers optical elements for CPV. The design and implementation of theopticaldesignofaCPVmodulewillhavealargeeffectonthemodulestandard-conditionsefficiencyandperformance in the field.Thissub-areawill includestudiesof thematerialpropertiesofopticalelementsaswellasthedesignsandcharacterization.Topicsthatmaybe covered include soiling, other reliability topics, innovative designs, and methods forcharacterizingtheperformanceoftheopticalportionofthemodule.Sub-Area3.6:MobileSolarPower/HighEfficiencyFlexiblelightweightPVforUAVs(JointbetweenTopicAreas3,7and8)Sub-AreaChairs: RaoTatavarti(Microlink)

DanielDerkacs(SolAero)BrendanKayes(AltaDevices)SimoneMissirian(SpaceSystemsLoral)

Sub-Area3.6isshared*betweenAreas3,7and8andcoversprogressonthedevelopmentofMobile Solar Power (MSP) systems and applications.* TheMSP system development

includeshighefficiency,flexibleandlightweightsolarcells,andsheets.Papersaresoughtthat describe the development of cell technologies and thin cell fabrication includingepitaxial growth, fabrication and testing are solicited. Papers covering developments offlexible solar sheet fabrication methods, studies on improvement of sheet durability;ruggedness and overall efficiency are invited. Papers discussing cost reductiontechnologiesforbothcellproductionandcellintegrationareencouraged.Developmentsofsystems applications of photovoltaic sheets such as battery charging, portable power,powering flexible electronics and solarUAV coveringboth the commercial anddeployedsoldierpowerapplicationareofinterestinthissub-area.

(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation.Sub-Area3.7:ApproachesforLow-CostIII-VBasedPVTechnologies:AlternativeSubstrates,Low-CostEpitaxy,andBonding(JointbetweenTopicAreas1,3,4and7)Sub-AreaChair: TylerGrassman(OhioStateUniversity)

Thissub-areaisbeingjointlysponsoredbetweenAreas1,3,4and7.*Topicsofinterestarebroadlydefinedastechnologiesandapproachesrelatedtotheachievementoflow-costIII-V materials and solar cells, including the use of alternative substrates, low-costgrowth/depositionmethods,andbonding.Papersaresolicitedonthegrowthofcrystallineandpoly-crystalline III-Vmaterials on alternative substrates (i.e. not single-crystalGeorIII-V),suchasSi,engineeredmetalfoils,andpolycrystallinetemplates.Therelatedtopicsofinterfaceanddefectcharacterization,aswellasdefectreduction,inhighlymismatchedandheterovalent epitaxial growth are of interest. Additionally, new cell designs andarchitectures for III-Vmaterials on alternate substrates, such as active Si ("Si-plus"), aretargeted for this sub-area. Papers are also sought on low-cost III-V growth/depositiontechniques, such asHVPE andultra-high-rateOMVPE/MOCVD. Papers onwafer/epilayerbondingapproachesarealsosolicited.(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation.Sub-Area3.8:CharacterizationofSingleCrystallinePVMaterialsandDevices(JointbetweenTopicAreas3and5)Sub-AreaChair: HennerKampwerth(Univ.ofNewSouthWales)This sub-area is being jointly sponsored between Areas 3 and 5.* Papers focusing oncharacterization ofmaterials and deviceswhere the III-V single crystalline nature of thematerialisparamounttodeviceperformanceshouldbesubmittedhere.Characterizationoflargegrainmulti-crystallineandpolycrystallineIII-Vmaterialsanddevicesalsobelongsinthisareaasthecrystalsaresolargeastotypicallybeeffectivelysinglecrystals.(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation.

_______________________________________________

Area4:SiliconPhotovoltaicMaterialsandDevicesChair: MarianaBertoni,ArizonaStateUniversity,USA

Co-Chairs: GisoHahn,UniversityofKonstanzSergiuPop,Yingli,China

AreaDescriptionSiliconisthedominatingsolarcelltechnologywithamarketshareofaround90%.Siliconis non-toxic and abundantly available in the earth’s crust and silicon PV modules haveshowntheirlong-termstabilityoverdecadesoftestingonthefield.Thepricereductionofsiliconmodulesinthelast30yearscanbedescribedverywellbyalearningfactorof20%and thispositive trendcontinues togoon.Due to the strongcompetition,modulepriceshaveseenastrongdeclineinthelastyearsfallingwellbelow$1/Wp.Thisisanexcellentsituation for customers and PV installers but recently it has been rather challenging forproducersofsiliconsolarcellsandmodules.ThecostdistributionofacrystallinesiliconPVmodulesisclearlydominatedbymaterialcosts,especiallybythecostsofthesiliconwafer.Duringthelastcoupleofyearsthewafercosthasgonedowndramaticallyenablingnovelcell architectures and propelling high efficiency devices. Area 4 invites contributionsreportingonallaspectsofstandardsilicontechnologyandfilmsilicon,fromfundamentalsanddevicephysicstoprocessingandmoduleintegration.Sub-Area4.1:SiliconMaterial:TechnologyandAnalysisSub-AreaChairs: GianlucaColetti(ECN)

NathanStoddard(SolarWorldAmericas)

Thissub-areacoversthefirstpartofthevaluechainfromfeedstockthroughcrystallizationto wafering, including kerf-less technologies. Additionally, abstracts addressing themechanicalandelectricalcharacteristicsoftheresultingwafers,includingmaterialquality,defectsanddefectengineeringsteps(e.g.gettering)ofthesiliconmaterialarewelcome.Sub-Area4.2:JunctionFormationSub-AreaChairs: BrettHallam(UNSW)

StefanGlunz(FraunhoferISE)

Theformationofp-nandhigh-lowjunctionsarefundamentalstepsofthesiliconsolarcellprocess.Thissub-areacoversallthedifferenttechnologiesthatenablejunctionformationlike gas phase diffusion, heterojunction and passivated contact approaches, laser andthermallyactivateddopingfromdepositedfilmsand/orimplantation.Aspecialfocusissetonstructureddopingneededforadvancedcellstructureslikeback-junctionsolarcellsandpassivatedcontacttechnologies.Sub-Area4.3:SurfacePassivationandLight-trappingSub-AreaChairs: ZivHameri(UNSW)

Withincreasingqualityofthesiliconmaterial,thesurfacesofthesolarcellsarebecomingmoreandmoreimportant.Thissub-areawelcomesabstractscoveringallaspectsofsurface

passivation like dielectric layers, organic/inorganic interfaces, surface cleaning andpassivationmechanisms.Anotherimportantaspectrelatedtothesurfacesofsiliconsolarcells is improved light-trapping. This sub-area also welcomes submissions addressingenhancedphotonabsorptionbyclassical,diffractiveandplasmonicmechanisms.Sub-Area4.4:ContactFormationandModuleIntegrationSub-AreaChair: RadovanKopecek(ISCGermany)

HartmutNussbaumer(ZHAW)

The final step of cell processing is the formation of contacts. This sub-area welcomesmanuscriptscoveringallcurrentandnoveltechniquesforcontactformation,includingbutnotlimitedtoprintedmetallization,plating,evaporation,conductiveadhesives,soldering,laserandthermalalloyingofmetals,andtransparentelectrodes.Thecontactsarealsotheinterfacetothesubsequentmoduleintegration.Thereforetopicslikemechanicaladhesion,multi-wire technologies and the interconnection of advanced cell structures like back-contactcellsarealsoaddressedinthissub-area.Sub-Area4.5:DevicePhysicsandAnalysisSub-AreaChair: KeithMcIntosh(PVLighthouse)

BonnaNewman(ECN)

Thedevelopmentofadvancedsolarcellarchitecturesrequiresanin-depthunderstandingoftheunderlyingdevicephysics.Thissub-areacoversaspectslikedevicecharacterizationandnumericalsimulationaswellastheanalysisofnovelcellconcepts.Sub-Area4.6:FilmSiliconMaterialGrowthandDevicesSub-AreaChair: ArnoSmets(DelftUniversityofTechnology)

ZacharyHolman(ArizonaStateUniversity)

Thin-film silicon covers a class ofmaterials that ranges from amorphous silicon and itsgroup-IV alloys, over nano- andmicrocrystalline silicon, silicon-oxides and -carbides, tothin-films of crystalline silicon. Research and development in this active area addressesfundamentalconceptsofmaterialquality,recentinsightintolightinduceddegradation,andpassivationofinternalinterfacesandheterojunctions.Sub-Area4.7:ApproachesforLow-CostIII-VBasedPVTechnologies:AlternativeSubstrates,Low-CostEpitaxy,andBonding(JointbetweenTopicAreas1,3,4and7)Sub-AreaChair: TylerGrassman(OhioStateUniversity)

Thissub-areaisbeingjointlysponsoredbetweenAreas1,3,4and7.*Topicsofinterestarebroadlydefinedastechnologiesandapproachesrelatedtotheachievementoflow-costIII-V materials and solar cells, including the use of alternative substrates, low-costgrowth/depositionmethods,andbonding.Papersaresolicitedonthegrowthofcrystallineandpoly-crystalline III-Vmaterials on alternative substrates (i.e. not single-crystalGeorIII-V),suchasSi,engineeredmetalfoils,andpolycrystallinetemplates.Therelatedtopicsofinterfaceanddefectcharacterization,aswellasdefectreduction,inhighlymismatchedandheterovalent epitaxial growth are of interest. Additionally, new cell designs andarchitectures for III-Vmaterials on alternate substrates, such as active Si ("Si-plus"), are

targeted for this sub-area. Papers are also sought on low-cost III-V growth/depositiontechniques, such asHVPE andultra-high-rateOMVPE/MOCVD. Papers onwafer/epilayerbondingapproachesarealsosolicited.(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation.______________________________________________

Area5:CharacterizationMethodsChair: MarinaLeite,UniversityofMaryland,USA

Co-Chairs: ThomasUnold,Helmholtz-Zentrum,Berlin,Germany Yoshihiro Hishikawa, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology(AIST),JapanAreaDescriptionThecomprehensiveunderstandingofhowandwhyphotovoltaicdevicesoperaterequiresmaterial and device characterization, ranging from measurements of the optoelectronicresponseofemergingandwell-establishedmaterialstotheroleofdefectsonoveralldeviceperformance and the characterization of PV modules. Area 5 focuses on novelcharacterization techniques, in situmonitoringofmaterials anddevices, the relationshipbetweenstructuralandoptoelectronicpropertiesofmaterialsinoperatingdevices,andthecharacterizationofPVmodules.Jointsessionsareplannedwithotherareasforpapersthatareheavilycharacterizationfocusedbutwithapplicationtooneareaoftechnology.Measurements are needed at all levels of R&D and production – from investigating theoperatingprinciplesofsolarcellstodevelopingstandardsfortheperformanceofinstalledphotovoltaic (PV) systems. The relationship between structure, physical properties, andthe resultingPVperformance is fundamental toengineeringPVmaterialswith improvedperformance.Reliableandprecisedeterminationoftheefficiencyandthuspowerofsolarcells and PVmodules is crucial for the successfulwidespread deployment of PV and anongoingchallengeforflat-plateandconcentratorPVtechnologies.Westronglyencouragemembersof thePVcommunity tosubmit theircontributionsaddressing the full rangeofscientific and technological challenges in the field of characterization, including thefollowingtopics:Sub-Area 5.1: NewMethods and Instruments for the Characterization of Solar CellMaterialsSub-AreaChair: NancyHaegel(NREL)

Thissub-areaisintendedtoshowcasetheapplicationoftechniquesforcharacterizationofPV materials and to demonstrate their capabilities. Papers submitted to this sub-areashould be science or technology focused with strong technical content, rather thanadvertisements. Papers are sought that eitherpresentnewcharacterization tools or thatprovide an overview and update on the state-of-the-art application of a particulartechnique or type of instrumentation. Papers should demonstrate the capabilities of theinstrumentation, describe its operating principles, and/or relate how the techniqueextendsexistingmeasurementlimitations.Sub-Area5.2:OpticalandElectricalCharacterizationTechniquesforPVSub-AreaChair: SaschaSadewasser(INL)

MarinaLeite(Univ.ofMaryland)

Papersdescribinganyaspectoftheopticaland/orelectricalresponseofPVmaterialsandfulldevicesarewelcomeintheSub-Area,includingtheapplicationofscanningprobeandscanning electron microscopies, and other imaging methods for the analysis of defects,surfacepassivation,carrierrecombination,lighttrappingeffects,etc.,ontheoveralldeviceperformance.ForthisSub-Area,papersfocusingonthetechniqueratherthanthematerialaspectsarestronglyencouraged.Sub-Area5.3:CharacterizationofPolycrystallineorAmorphousThinFilmPVSub-AreaChair: TaliaGershon(IBM)

ThomasUnold(HZB)

Sub-Area5.3focusesonthecharacterizationofpolycrystallineoramorphousthinfilmPV,with emphasis on their structure, properties, and how these relate to processing andperformance,withafocusonthematerials.Thediscussionofbothwell-established(suchas chalcogenides) and emergingmaterials (such as earth abundantmaterials) is equallywelcome.Sub-Area5.4:CharacterizationofSingleCrystallinePVMaterialsandDevices(JointbetweenTopicAreas3and5)Sub-AreaChair: HennerKampwerth(Univ.ofNewSouthWales)

This sub-area is being jointly sponsored between Areas 3 and 5.* Papers focusing oncharacterization ofmaterials and deviceswhere the III-V single crystalline nature of thematerialisparamounttodeviceperformanceshouldbesubmittedhere.Characterizationoflargegrainmulti-crystallineandpolycrystallineIII-Vmaterialsanddevicesalsobelongsinthisareaasthecrystalsaresolargeastotypicallybeeffectivelysinglecrystals.(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation.Sub-Area5.5:CharacterizationofPerovskiteSolarCellsandMaterials(JointbetweenTopicAreas5and6)Sub-AreaChair: MarinaLeite(Univ.ofMaryland)

The rapid progress of perovskite solar cells in the last years resulted in high efficiencydevices;however,wearefarfromachievingcompleteunderstandingofwhythematerialachieves near-perfect optoelectronic properties as initially grown, but is often unable toretain those near-perfect properties when exposed to light or atmospheres withoxygen/water. This Sub-Area encourages the submission of papers discussing thecharacterization and analysis of perovskite solar cells, including the development ofmeasurement techniques to probe its optoelectronic properties and their relationship tochemical structure. Characterization techniques that elucidate the degradationmechanisms are of particular interest. The understanding ofwhatmakes perovskites soeasily achieve near-perfect properties as well as the chemical composition changes andhow they affect the optoelectronic response of the devices is required for the rationaldesignofstableperovskitesolarcells.Sub-Area5.6:In-situMonitoringandProcessingControl

Sub-AreaChair: YoshihiroHishikawa(AIST)

This sub-area is intended for papersdescribinghow tomonitorPVmaterials during thedepositionorgrowthsteps,anddevicesunderoperationalvoltageorlightbiasconditionsand during manufacturing. Papers are sought that describe measurement techniquesand/or data analysis methods that are particularly suited for determining materialproperties and for identifying manufacturing process excursions or that provide othermanufacturing-relatedbenefits.Sub-Area5.7:PerformanceTestingandStandardsSub-AreaChair: BruceKing(SandiaNationalLab)

GregKimball(SunEdison)

A key component of characterization, especially of modules and systems, is testingstandards. This sub-area is intended for submissions related to standard approaches tocharacterization.Forexample, standards for light fluxmeasurement, calibrationmethodsfor simulators, testing temperatures, and other fundamental parameters ofcharacterizationscouldbesubmittedhere.Sub-Area5.8:CharacterizationTechniquesforPVModulesandSystems(JointbetweenTopicAreas5and8)Sub-AreaChair: KeithEmery(NREL)

GregKimball(SunEdison)

Papersfocusingoncharacterizationofcompletemodulesandsystemswherethenatureofthedeviceisdominatedbytheensembleofmicroscopicbehaviorsdistributedthroughoutalargearearatherthantheunderstandingofindividualmicroscopicbehaviors.Forexample,papers in this sub-area could focus on methods such as LBIC or electroluminescencespecifically as applied to understanding module performance rather than the samemethodsapplied to smallareasofdevice.Otherexamplesofpapers relevant to thisareainclude adaptation of existing methods to characterize modules from emergingtechnologies such as perovskites or addressing the characterization of degradationmechanismsofmodulesorsystemsofthosematerials.Papersfocusingonthedevelopmentofnovelmethodsorsystems,suchassolarsimulators,modulereliabilitycharacterizationmethods,andaccelerated lifetimetestingmethodsshouldbesubmittedhere. In thiscasethefocusshouldbeonthetechniqueratherthantheapplication.Papersfocusingprimarilyonthecharacterizationtechniqueorstandardmethodforapplyingitshouldbesubmittedto sub-areas 5.5 or 5.7, respectively. Papers describing methods for extracting modelparametersfrommeasurementsshouldbesubmittedtosub-area8.3._______________________________________________

Area6:PerovskiteandOrganicSolarCellsChair: JoeyLuther,NationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory,U.S.A.

Co-Chairs: NamGyuPark,SungkyunkwanUniversity(SKKU),Korea AreaDescriptionThis focus area covers the latest scientific and technicalprogressofbothperovskite andorganic solar cells. These photovoltaic (PV) technologies have shown incredible recentprogressandarebeingveryactivelyinvestigatedwithintheresearchcommunity.Solution-processedperovskitesolarcellefficiencieshaverocketedto>20%withjustafewyearsofresearch.Thiskindofsolarcell isaprimeexampleof interdisciplinaryresearchdrawingtogetherexpertisefromchemistry,materials,physics,andengineering.Basedonabundantmaterials and scalable coating technologies, these emerging PV technologies showpotentialforlow-cost,lightweight,andflexiblesolarpowergenerationandwillsoonhavetoproveitsviability inthemarketwithanacceptablecombinationofefficiency,stability,andinsomecasesenvironmentalbenignityatscale.Manyoftheunderlyingphysicalprocessesarestillbeingexploredandthishelpspavethepathforwardforuncoveringthetruepotentialoftheseemergingtechnologies.Thegoalofthis focus area is to address issues ranging from fundamental science to technologicaladvances and challenges associated with manufacturable scaling in the highlyinterdisciplinary sub-areas outlined below. Furthermore, Area 6 will offer a uniquepossibility to strengthen interactions and integration between researchers from theseemergingPVtechnologiesandthegreaterPVcommunity,somethingeveryonewillbenefitfrom.Sub-Area6.1:PerovskiteSolarCellsSub-AreaChair: JoeyLuther(NREL)Sub-Area6.1coversthelatestdevelopmentsinorganic-inorganichybridperovskitebasedsolarcells.Therapidprogressinthismaterialclassforsolarcellshascomeasasurprisetomany; power conversion efficiencies of perovskite solar cells are already comparable tothoseofestablishedthinfilmtechnologies.Thematerialsarehighlytunable,makingthemattractive for a range of applications including building-integrated PV and tandem solarcells.Thissubareafocusesonthetunabilityofferedbysubstitutionofelements,whichmayenablebetterperformance,newdevicearchitectures,andadvancedprocessingsteps.Weinvite contributions from the broad range of topics relating to organic-inorganic andperovskite-basedPV.Sub-Area6.2:OrganicSolarCellsSub-AreaChair: NikosKopidakis(NREL)

Sub-Area 6.2 focuses on organic solar cells. Concurrent efforts in novel materials anddevice architectures have led to efficiencies above 10% in recent years. A betterunderstandingofhowthemolecularstructure influencestheoptoelectronicpropertiesofsolar cells is often considered as key for the targeted synthesis of high performance

absorbermolecules.Additionally,optimaldevicedesignrequiresinsightintotheprocessesof free charge carrier generation, recombination and extraction as well as modeling ofopto-electronic device properties. Great strides in device stability have also beendemonstratedandguidelinesfordesigningstableabsorbersandcontactsarebeingsought.Finally,theprocessingscienceoforganicsolarcells,withemphasisonscalabledepositionmethods, is important for the development of robust manufacturing methodologies.Therefore, this sub-area welcomes a broad range of submissions from first principlesdesign and synthesis of newdonor and acceptormaterials,methods of how to influenceand characterize their microstructure in thin films to device optimization, stability andscalability.Sub-Area6.3:HybridOrganic/InorganicSolarCells(JointTopicAreas1&6)Sub-AreaChair: GergelyZimanyi(UniversityofCaliforniaDavis)

JointSub-Areas1.3and6.3coverprogressonthedevelopmentofhybridsolarcellsbasedonthecombinationofmultiplenovelmaterials,suchasorganicsemiconductors,colloidalnanomaterials (nanocrystal quantum dot, nanorod, nanowires, nanotubes) or conceptsfromsensitizedsolarcells*.Thisclassofdevices isrootedinnanostructuredTiO2orZnOintegrated with conjugated polymers (P3HT), but is rapidly expanding to include manyother organic and inorganic materials including single and polycrystalline Si and GaAs,organicsmallmolecules,nanostructuredcarbonallotropessuchascarbonnanotubesandgraphene, as well as colloidal nanostructures including quantum wires, rods, and dots.Hybridsolarcellsaredesignedtoexploittheuniqueinterfacialelectronicpropertiesattheorganic-inorganicboundary. Papersaresoughtwhichleveragetheuniqueelectronicandoptical properties and functionality afforded by integrating organic and inorganicmaterials, and those which utilize quantum confined nanostructures to enhance chargetransportandfine-tunethespectralsensitivityrange.

(*)SubmityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigationSub-Area6.4:DeviceStabilitySub-AreaChair: QijieGuo(DupontCorporation)

PV technologies of sub-areas 6.1-6.3 have shown very encouraging efficiencies andaccelerated lifetime testing shows the potential of lifetimes of more than 10 years.However, this is still far away from the targeted 25 years that conventional silicon PVguarantees.Ontheonehand,theunderstandingofthevariousdegradationpathwayshastobe improved.Ontheotherhand,amajorchallenge isreliablypredictingsolarcellandmodule operating lifetimes for the constantly changingmaterials sets and stack designsbeing investigated. Sub-Area 6.4 invites contributions on operating lifetime studies andconcepts to improve the device stability, from more stable materials to high qualityencapsulation.Sub-Area6.5:Scale-UpandApplicationsSub-AreaChair: NamGyuPark(SKKU)Itisclearthatonthewaytolarge-scaleproduction,correspondinglylarge-scalesynthesisbased on abundantmaterials and fast coating processes need to be developed.With the

first real production systems in the final development phase, markets like buildingintegrated PV and mobile energy are likely to be targeted first. Given the unique formfactors, there aremanymore applications for these novel PV technologies, especially inareaswhereconventionalPVreaches its limits.Sub-Area6.5dealswiththechallengesofscaling up their production andways to access an affordable terawatt capacity that thetechnology should allow for. This sub-area has potential overlap with Area 8 on PVModulesandManufacturing.Dependingonthenumberandnatureofsubmittedabstracts,ajointsessionwillbeconsidered.Sub-Area6.6:CharacterizationofPerovskiteSolarCellsandMaterials(JointbetweenTopicAreas5and6)Sub-AreaChair: MarinaLeite(Univ.ofMaryland)

The rapid progress of perovskite solar cells in the last years resulted in high efficiencydevices;however,wearefarfromachievingcompleteunderstandingofwhythematerialachieves near-perfect optoelectronic properties as initially grown, but is often unable toretain those near-perfect properties when exposed to light or atmospheres withoxygen/water. This Sub-Area encourages the submission of papers discussing thecharacterization and analysis of perovskite solar cells, including the development ofmeasurement techniques to probe its optoelectronic properties and their relationship tochemical structure. Characterization techniques that elucidate the degradationmechanisms are of particular interest. The understanding ofwhatmakes perovskites soeasily achieve near-perfect properties as well as the chemical composition changes andhow they affect the optoelectronic response of the devices is required for the rationaldesignofstableperovskitesolarcells._______________________________________________

Area7:SpaceandSpecialtyTechnologiesChair:DavidWilt,AirForceResearchLaboratory,USA

Co-Chairs:ClausZimmerman,Airbus,GermanyMitsuruImaizumi,JAXA,JapanAreaDescriptionArea 7 seeks papers related to space PV including: fundamental cell and materialtechnologies, panel/blanket technologies, array technologies and on-orbit flightperformance. Inaddition, therearetwosharedsub-areas, focusedonmobilesolarpowerandlow-costIII-Vtechnologies.VirtuallyallspacecraftarepoweredbyPVgeneratorsandthus advances in space PV technologies contribute significantly to improvement ofspacecraft performance. The surge in interest in Cubesat and Smallsat constellations isleadingtonewapproachesforstandardizedsolarpanelsanddeployablearraystoachieveverylowcostatappropriatereliabilitylevels.Failuresofspacepowersystemsareamongthe largest contributors of on-orbit anomalies, costing an estimated $9 billion between1990 and 2013. The failures in space power systems are frequently due to componentsother than the solar cells, thuswe are particularly interested in papers that cover otherimportant spacePV technologies, such as solar cell interconnects, electrostatic dischargecontrol technologies, panel and blanket materials technologies, contamination controlapproaches,novelrigidandflexibleplanarsolararraytechnologiesaswellasadvancesinspace solar concentrator array technologies. We highly encourage contributions,particularly from students who are working in relevant research areas. We invite yourpapers on any subjects related to space PV described above, and look forward to yourcontribution!Sub-Area7.1:AdvancedSolarCells,IncludingRadiationEffectsSub-AreaChairs: MariaGonzalez(NRL,

WolfgangGuter(AzurSpaceSolarPower)GeoffBradshaw(AFRL)TakeshiOhshima(JAEA)

Thissub-areafocusesonnovelphotovoltaicdeviceapproachesandrecentdevelopmentsinhigh performance photovoltaic materials and devices for space applications. Radiationhardening technologies that enable longer on-orbit capability are also sought. Papers oncharacterization andmodeling of solar cells, including concentrator space solar cells arewelcomed.ContributionsdealingwiththeAM0calibrationofsolarcellsalsobelongtothisarea. Papers covering both space and terrestrial solar cell development aspects will beincludedinajointsessionwithArea3.Sub-Area7.2:AdvancedSolarPanelandBlanketTechnology,IncludingESDAspectsSub-AreaChairs: ScottBillets(LMCO)

HiroToyota(JAXA)KyleMontgomery(AFRL)

Thissub-areafocusesontechnologydevelopmentsassociatedwithintegratingspacesolarcells onto rigid panels and flexible blankets. Technologies required for electrostaticdischargecontrolandstabilizationagainstionizingradiation(UV,particles),developmentof space solar concentrator technologies, incorporating both the optical concentratingelementaswellasthesolarcellthermalcontrolelementareincludedaswell.Ofparticularinterestinthisareaarepapersdealingwiththebehaviorofmoduletechnologyunderthespaceenvironment.This includesstudieson individualmaterialsrelevant forspacesolarmodules.Alsoofinterestarepapersthatdescribeapproachestolowercost,standardizedsolarpanels,bothfixedanddeployable,forCubesatsandSmallsatconstellationsSub-Area7.3:AdvancedSolarArraysandStructuresSub-AreaChairs: BaoHoang(SpaceSystemsLoral)

RichardPappa(NASA)PaulHodgetts(ESA)

This sub-areawas introduced during last year’s PVSC42 and aims to bring together theindividuals who are developing advanced solar array structures with the traditionalphotovoltaic technologists, in the hope that a fuller understanding of themutual designrestrictionswillaidindevelopinghigherreliability,higherperformancespacesolararraysfor variousapplications suchasmicrosatellitepower range to large spacecraftwithhighpowerrange,coupledwithelectricthrusters,fordeep-spacemissions.Tothisend,paperswith a mechanical focus are explicitly encouraged in this area. Also welcome arecontributionsthatdealwithplatformaspectsandtheirinteractionwiththesolararray.Sub-Area7.4:FlightExperienceandReliabilityofSpacePhotovoltaicPowerSystemsSub-AreaChairs: PhilJenkins(NRL)

TedStern(AllianceSpaceSystems)CarstenBaur(ESA)

Thisareadealswiththeon-orbitperformanceandreliabilityofspacephotovoltaicpowersystemsandcomponents.Anessentialaspectistheresultsfromon-orbitexperimentationand operation of PV power systems and their analyses. Reliability assessments viaexperimentally determined degradation behavior, e.g. due to particle irradiation orcontamination, are encouraged. Papers dealing with reliability improvements due toparticularqualification approaches and test standards arewelcome.Papers covering cellandpowersystemtestingusingCubeSatsarealsoencouraged.Sub-Area7.5:MobileSolarPower/HighEfficiencyFlexiblelightweightPVforUAVs(JointbetweenTopicAreas3,7and8)Sub-AreaChairs: RaoTatavarti(Microlink)

DanielDerkacs(SolAero)BrendanKayes(AltaDevices)SimoneMissirian(SpaceSystemsLoral)

Thissub-areaisshared*betweenAreas3,7and8andcoversprogressonthedevelopmentofMobile Solar Power (MSP) systems and applications.* TheMSP system developmentincludeshighefficiency,flexibleandlightweightsolarcells,andsheets.Papersaresought

that describe the development of cell technologies and thin cell fabrication includingepitaxial growth, fabrication and testing are solicited. Papers covering developments offlexible solar sheet fabrication methods, studies on improvement of sheet durability;ruggedness and overall efficiency are invited. Papers discussing cost reductiontechnologiesforbothcellproductionandcellintegrationareencouraged.Developmentsofsystems applications of photovoltaic sheets such as battery charging, portable power,powering flexible electronics and solarUAV coveringboth the commercial anddeployedsoldierpowerapplicationareofinterestinthissub-area.

(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation.Sub-Area7.6:ApproachesforLow-CostIII-VBasedPVTechnologies:AlternativeSubstrates,Low-CostEpitaxy,andBonding(JointbetweenTopicAreas1,3,4and7)Sub-AreaChair: TylerGrassman(OhioStateUniversity)

Thissub-areaisbeingjointlysponsoredbetweenAreas1,3,4and7.*Topicsofinterestarebroadlydefinedastechnologiesandapproachesrelatedtotheachievementoflow-costIII-V materials and solar cells, including the use of alternative substrates, low-costgrowth/depositionmethods,andbonding.Papersaresolicitedonthegrowthofcrystallineandpoly-crystalline III-Vmaterials on alternative substrates (i.e. not single-crystalGeorIII-V),suchasSi,engineeredmetalfoils,andpolycrystallinetemplates.Therelatedtopicsofinterfaceanddefectcharacterization,aswellasdefectreduction,inhighlymismatchedandheterovalent epitaxial growth are of interest. Additionally, new cell designs andarchitectures for III-Vmaterials on alternate substrates, such as active Si ("Si-plus"), aretargeted for this sub-area. Papers are also sought on low-cost III-V growth/depositiontechniques, such asHVPE andultra-high-rateOMVPE/MOCVD. Papers onwafer/epilayerbondingapproachesarealsosolicited.

(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation_______________________________________________

Area8:PVModules,Manufacturing,SystemsandApplicationsChair: DanaOlson,U.S.DepartmentofEnergy,USACo-Chairs: PierreVerlinden,TrinaSolar,ChinaUSA

RalphGottschalg,LoughboroughUniversity,UK AreaDescriptionThe remarkable recent decrease in the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) in photovoltaicmodules is largely attributed to the significant improvements in module performance,engineering, and manufacturing over recent years. New materials and assemblytechnologies are being developed for PV modules and will further reduce costs andincrease performance. Additionally, customers and operators are seeking and utilizingenergy yield prediction methods to reduce investment risk. Improved energy yieldestimateswillreducesomeofthesoftcostsinfinancingandthusfurtherreduceLCOE.

Area 8 is seeking papers describing significant advances in PV module design andmanufacturing, methods for forecasting andmodeling energy yield and performance, aswell as testing and system monitoring. Additionally, we invite papers describingadvancements in technology and modeling for balance-of-system components such astrackers, inverters,andpoweroptimizers. Finally,paperson innovativedeploymentandapplications of PV technologies are also requested for a Joint Session on mobile powerapplications.

In each sub-area, the greatest interest is for papers reporting completed work that isaccompaniedbyvalidationfromthefield,laboratorytesting,orcomprehensivemodeling.Sub-Area8.1:ModuleMaterials,Design,Manufacture,andProductionSub-AreaChair: KatyHartman(Tessolar)

ChristianHoneker(FraunhoferCSE)

InSub-Area8.1,abstractsareinvitedthatdescribenewmaterialsandmethodsformoduleproduction.Ofparticularinterestare:newmaterialsforbacksheets,encapsulants,glass,orinterconnects;newtechniques formoduleassembly toreducecost, increaseefficiencyorenhance reliability;methods formaterialsormodule characterization; andnovelmoduleelectrical configurations. In coordination with Sub-Area 9.4, we particularly welcomesubmissions describing state-of-artmethods or newmethods formodulemanufacturingquality control, including: quality assurance of module materials and subcomponents;statisticalprocesscontrol;automationofmoduleassembly;andmodulequalityassurance.Sub-Area8.2:ObservedSystemPerformanceSub-AreaChair: LaurenNgan(FirstSolar) KendraPassow(FirstSolar)

Sub-Area9.2welcomesabstractsdescribingdocumentationoffieldedsystemperformance.As solar deployment increases dramatically, there are opportunities to document theperformanceoflargenumbersofsystems.Wealsosolicitpapersthatprovidecomparisons

ofdifferenttechnologiesorproductsinordertopreciselyquantifytheirperformanceinthefield.Sub-Area8.3:ModelsforEnergyPredictionSub-AreaChair: JoshuaStein(Sandia)

Sub-area8.3focusesonPVmodulemodelingandpredictionofproducedpower.Abstractsrelatingtomechanical,thermalandelectricalmodelingofPVmodulesandsystemswillbeaccepted, includingmethods fordeterminingparameters for thesemodels. Ofparticularinterest are abstracts describing: methods for determining model parameters fromlaboratory and/or outdoor characterization; models for the effect of solar spectrum onmodule output; and methods for estimating system losses due to module, shading, ortemperaturevariationsacrossPVarraysandinstallationsaswellasBOSrelatedlosses.Sub-Area8.4:SystemPerformanceRatingandMonitoringStrategiesSub-AreaChair: LaurenNgan(FirstSolar) KendraPassow(FirstSolar)

Sub-Area8.4welcomesabstractsreporting improvedtechniques forsystemperformancetestingandnovelmethodsandtechnologiesforsystemmonitoringduringoperation,andinparticular, research describing novel analysis strategies to extract knowledge regardingsystem health and performance from availablemonitoring data. Wewelcome abstractsdescribing: advances in or evaluations of methods for determination of performancemetrics of plant performance; procedures for conducting commissioning and acceptancetests;andanalysesdescribingdatacollectionandqualityassurance forsuch testing. Weparticularly invite abstracts reporting efforts to compare and/or harmonize among thevariousstandardsforsystemtesting.Sub-Area8.5:PVforBuildingsandNovelApplicationsSub-AreaChair: EszterVoroshazi(imec)

Sub-Area 8.6 welcomes abstracts describing advances related to materials, design, andmanufacturing forbuilding-integratedorbuilding-appliedPV(BIPV/BAPV)systems. Therapidmarketgrowthinnet-zerobuildingsencouragesincentivestoarchitectsandbuildingownersaliketofindnewandinnovativebuildingpowersolutions.Wewelcomeabstractsreportingnew innovations,visions for futuredevelopment,andadvancedanalysesof thecostreductionpotentialforbuildingpowerapplications.Inparticular,weinviteabstractsreportingadvances inbuildingdesign toolswith integratedPVmodeling functionality,aswellasreportsofbuildingpowersystemperformanceinthefield.In this sub-area we also welcome abstracts describing recent advances in off-grid PVsystems, hybrid systems, mini/micro-grids, DC end-use systems, and other advancedapplications. We are particularly interested in results from fielded or demonstrationinstallations,butalsowelcometopicscoveringdesignandengineeringadvances,aswellasresultsfromsystemsimulations.WewelcomepaperscoveringinnovativeuseofPVinnon-traditionalapplications.

Sub-Area8.6:MobileSolarPower/HighEfficiencyFlexible lightweightPVforUAVs(JointbetweenTopicAreas3,7and8)Sub-AreaChair: DanielDerkacs(SolAero)

Sub-Area8.6 isashared*sub-areabetweenAreas3,7and8andcoversprogresson thedevelopmentofMobileSolarPower(MSP)systemsandhighefficiency/highspecificpowerPVforUAVs.TheMSPsystemdevelopmentincludeshighefficiency(>20%demonstrated),flexible and lightweight solar cells, and sheets. Papers describing advances in novelmethods of thin cell fabrication including epitaxial growth, fabrication and testing aresolicited.Paperscoveringdevelopmentsofflexiblesolarsheetfabricationmethods,studiesonimprovementofsheetdurability;ruggednessandoverallefficiencyareinvited.Papersdiscussing cost reduction technologies for both cell production and cell integration areencouraged.Developmentsofsystemsapplicationsofphotovoltaicsheetssuchasbatterycharging, portable power, powering flexible electronics and solarUAV covering both thecommercialanddeployedsoldierpowerapplicationareofinterestinthissub-area.

(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation.Sub-Area 8.7: Characterization Techniques for PV Modules and Systems (JointbetweenTopicAreas5and8)Sub-AreaChairs: KeithEmery(NREL)

GregKimball(SunEdison)

This sub-area is being jointly sponsored between Areas 5 and 8.* Papers focusing oncharacterization of complete modules and systems where the nature of the device isdominatedbytheensembleofmicroscopicbehaviorsdistributedthroughouta largearearatherthantheunderstandingofindividualmicroscopicbehaviors.Forexample,papersinthissub-areacould focusonmethodssuchasLBICorelectroluminescencespecificallyasapplied to understandingmodule performance rather than the samemethods applied tosmallareasofdevice.Otherexamplesofpapersrelevanttothisareaincludeadaptationofexistingmethodstocharacterizemodulesfromemergingtechnologiessuchasperovskitesor addressing the characterization of degradationmechanisms ofmodules or systems ofthosematerials. Papersfocusingprimarilyonthecharacterizationtechniqueorstandardmethod forapplying it shouldbesubmitted to sub-areas5.5or5.7, respectively. Papersdescribing methods for extracting model parameters from measurements should besubmittedtosub-area8.3.

(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation.Sub-Area 8.8: PV Performance Degradation Due to Soiling (Joint between Topic toAreas8,9and11)Sub-AreaChairs: HassanQasem(DubaiElectricity&WaterAuthority)

Soilingcanbeamajor factor inpowerplantperformance. ThisSub-Area focuseson fieldstudies focused on soiling rates, ground- and satellite-based forecasting of soiling rates,methods forevaluating such rates, and fundamentalphysicsof soiling. Papersonnovelanti-soiling technologies are also encouraged. Papers on permanent panel degradationcausedbysoilingandcleaningoperations(e.g.glassabrasion)shouldbesubmittedtoSub-Area9.3butmaybeconsideredforthissession.

(*)Submityourabstractundertheareathatbestmatchesthenatureofyourinvestigation._______________________________________________Area9:PVandSystemReliabilityChair: CharlieHasselbrink,SunPower,USACo-Chair: AtsushiMasuda,AIST,JapanAreaDescriptionThePVindustrynowattractsbillionsofdollars&eurosofinvestmentannually;thusithasbecome increasingly critical to have confidence in the long-term performance andreliability of these systems. This Area considers the Reliability of all types of PV andSystems technologies as well as process impacts throughout the value chain. Topicsespecially critical to the success of the PV industry include: up-to-date understanding ofwhat isbeingobserved fordeployedproducts, thephysicsofdegradation/failuremodes,thedevelopmentofacceleratedtestsandthevalidationof thosetests’abilitytocorrelatewithoutcomesinthefield,bestpractices inDesign-for-ReliabilityandmanufacturingQA;and the development and industry acceptance of standards and test protocols to ensuresafetyandreliabilityofPVsystems.Thisyearweareconveningajointsessiononbalance-of-systemandsystemreliabilitywithArea10;wearealsoconveninga jointsessionwithAreas8and11regardingsoiling.SubmissionsareinvitedforalltypesofPVtechnologies.

This area may host joint sessions with other Areas. Area 9 has been divided into fivesubareas,aspresentedbelow.Submissionofpapersondetailedscientificresearchstudiesaswellasvisionarypapersaddressingthefullrangeofthesetopicsareinvited.Sub-Area9.1:ReliabilityFieldExperienceSub-AreaChair: DirkJordan(NREL)

This sub-area focuses on statistics of types of failures, data analysis techniques for fielddata, analysis of mechanisms of observed degradation and failures, electrical andmechanicalimpactsoffailures,degradationmodels,andlong-termoperationmodelsofPVplants. Submissions may include (but are not limited to) observations and analysis ofobservations fromdeployments of all PV technologies,methods of analysis of such data,andmodelsor reviews thatpaint thebigpictureofwhat ishappening in the realworld.PapersonsoilingshouldbesubmittedtoSub-Area9.6JointtopictoAreas8,9and11onPVPerformanceDegradationDuetoSoiling.Sub-Area9.2:DeviceReliabilityandAcceleratedTestingSub-AreaChair: MaxB.Köntopp(HanwhaQ-Cells)Both silicon and thin-film solar cells are subject to thermal, thermal cycling, humidity,electrical, ultraviolet light, and mechanical stresses that result in a variety of failuremechanismssuchas light-induceddegradation,potential-induceddegradation,damagetodevicepassivationlayers,cellstackdelamination,metallizationfatigue,andcorrosion.Thissub-areawelcomespapersonidentificationandelucidationofthechemistryandphysicsofdevice-levelfailuremechanisms,acceleratedstresstestsandaccelerationfactors,modelingofdegradationandfailurerates,andcriticalcontrolsinmanufacturing.Papersconcerning

device(cell)andpackaging(panel)interactionsmaybesubmittedtoeitherSub-Area9.2or9.3,andwillbeconsideredforbothareas.Sub-Area9.3:PanelandMaterialsDurabilityandAcceleratedTestingSub-AreaChair: JohnWohlgemuth(NREL)Module andmodule components are also subject to thermal, thermal cycling, humidity,ultravioletlight,electrical,andmechanicalstresses.Thesecanresultinavarietyoffailuremechanismssuchasglasscorrosion,encapsulantbrowning,backsheetcracking,bubblinganddelaminationinterconnectfatigueandcorrosion,framecorrosionandfatigue,bypassdiode failure, junction box failure, and cable and connector failure. Submissions areencouraged on experimental elucidations of the chemistry and physics of these or othermodule failuremechanisms,acceleratedstresstestsandaccelerationfactors,modelingofdegradationand failurerates,andcritical controls inmanufacturing. Papersconcerningdevice(cell)andpackaging(panel)interactionsmaybesubmittedtoeitherSub-Area9.2or9.3,andwillbeconsideredforbothareas.Sub-Area 9.4: Reliability and Safety of Power Electronics and PV Systems (JointbetweenTopicAreas9and10)Sub-AreaChair: ChrisFlueckiger(UnderwritersLaboratories)

The durability and safety of PV system power electronics is increasingly in focus. Forexample,newinvertersafetyrequirementsspecifiedbytheNationalElectricCodeincludearc /ground fault detection and rapid disconnect capability. The field durability of PVpower electronics is also an important factor in overall system lifetime cost. Improvedfunctionalityanddocumentationoffieldreliabilitystudiesforpowerelectronicswillbethefocus of this sub-area, as well as novel methods for fire prevention, arcdetection/mitigation,shockhazards,groundandseriesarcfaults,mechanicalintegrity,andinspectionprocedures.PapersstudyingPVsystem-levelavailabilityandreliabilityarealsoencouraged.Sub-Area9.5:PVPerformanceDegradationDuetoSoiling(JointbetweenTopicAreas8,9,and11)Sub-AreaChairs: HassanA.A.Qasem(DubaiElectricityandWaterAuthority)Soilingcanbeamajor factor inpowerplantperformance. ThisSub-Area focuseson fieldstudies focused on soiling rates, ground- and satellite-based forecasting of soiling rates,methods forevaluating such rates, and fundamentalphysicsof soiling. Papersonnovelanti-soiling technologies are also encouraged. Papers on permanent panel degradationcausedbysoilingandcleaningoperations(e.g.glassabrasion)shouldbesubmittedtoSub-Area9.3butmaybeconsideredforthissession.______________________________________________

Area10:PowerElectronicsandGridIntegrationChair: ChrisDeline,NationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory,USA

Co-Chair: OlivierStalter,FraunhoferISE,GermanyAreaDescriptionAs PV installations become more widespread, the demands on the power electronicsdesignedtointerfacesolarpanelstothegridwillcontinuetoincrease.Advancedinverterfunctionalityandenergystoragewillimprovethestabilityofthegridandenableincreasedpenetration of renewables. Improved topologies and controls will continue to increasepower converter performance and reduce balance of systems cost. Also, novel widebandgapmaterials can enable higher-voltage interconnections and improved conversionefficiencies. The PV and power electronics community is encouraged to submitcontributionsaddressingthefullrangeofscientificandtechnicalcontributionstothefieldofPVpowerelectronics. Inparticular,specialsessionsonWideBandgapsemiconductorsandajointsessionwitharea9representnewopportunitiesforpublicationatthePVSC.Sub-Area10.1:PowerConverterDesignandControlSub-areaChair: SorinSpanoche(OptimhedronDesign)ThisSub-areasolicitsabstractsdescribingnewinverterandpowerconverterdesignsandcontrolstrategies,aswellasnovelcomponentdesignandtestingresults.Sub-Area10.2:GridIntegration,High-penetrationPVandEnergyStorageSub-areaChair: BarryMather(NationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory)Highpenetrationofbothdistributedandutility-scalePVsystemson theelectricalpowergridandthevariabilityandunpredictabilityofPVoutputintroduceahostofchallengesforutilitiestomanage.Thissubareasolicitspapersaddressingallaspectsofgridintegration,fromadvancedinverterfunctionality(LVRT,Volt/VAR)tobatterystoragetechnologies,todetaileddistributionfeedernetworkanalysis.Sub-Area10.3:MaximizingPowerOutputOnandOfftheGridSub-areaChair: CarlosOlalla(UniversitatRoviraiVirgili)NoveltopologiesofPVsystemshavebeenproposedtoincreasegeneratedpowerbothonandoffthegrid.Distributedpowerelectronics, improvedmaximum-power-pointtrackingalgorithms, mismatch mitigation methods, system optimization software, higher systemvoltagesandoff-gridinnovationscanallimprovethesystemlevelefficiencyofPVsystems.This subarea seeks papers describing and evaluating innovative system designs, andexperimentalresultsofnewtechnologies.SubArea10.4:NextGenerationPowerElectronicswithWide-band-gapDevicesSub-AreaChair: JackFlicker(SandiaNationalLaboratories)Wide-bandgap materials such as SiC and GaN promise advanced inverter and powerconversion functionality, such as increased switching frequency, high power density,higher voltage operation and improved efficiency. This sub-area focuses on component

performance and reliability test results, novel topologies and applications, and field testexperiencewithnewproductofferings,allenabledbywidebandgapmaterials.Sub-Area 10.5: Reliability and Safety of Power Electronics and PV Systems (JointbetweenTopicAreas9and10)Sub-AreaChair: ChrisFlueckiger(UnderwritersLaboratories)

The durability and safety of PV system power electronics is increasingly in focus. Forexample,newinvertersafetyrequirementsspecifiedbytheNationalElectricCodeincludearc /ground fault detection and rapid disconnect capability. The field durability of PVpower electronics is also an important factor in overall system lifetime cost. Improvedfunctionalityanddocumentationoffieldreliabilitystudiesforpowerelectronicswillbethefocus of this sub-area, as well as novel methods for fire prevention, arcdetection/mitigation,shockhazards,groundandseriesarcfaults,mechanicalintegrity,andinspectionprocedures.PapersstudyingPVsystem-levelavailabilityandreliabilityarealsoencouraged.Sub-Area 10.6: Solar Forecasting for Grid Integration of PV (Joint between TopicAreas10and11)Sub-AreaChair: NicholasEngerer(AustralianNationalUniversity)

ThistopicfocusesontheuseofsolarforecastsinwaystobestintegratePVintotheelectricgrid. Topics for both distribution and transmission level integrationwill be considered.Papersshouldfocusonthemodelingormeasurementoftheelectricgrid inthechanginglandscapeofelectricsupplyduetoPV.DistributiongridpaperswilllargelyaddressthePVas a “behind-the-meter” application, whereas transmission-level research focuses on“utility-scale”PVplants. PreferredsubmissionsinthistopicareawilltargetnewinsightsintowaystheelectricgridcansuccessfullyoperateunderhighpenetrationPVwiththegoalofcausingminimaleconomicandtechnicalimpacts.

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Area11:SolarResourceforPVandForecastingChair: SkipDise,CleanPowerResearch,USA

Co-Chairs: WilfredWalsh,NationalUniversityofSingapore,Singapore AntonDriesse,PVPerformanceLabs,GermanyAreaDescriptionSolar resource measurement and forecasting are essential for evaluating technical andfinancial performance in PV applications, and uncertainties related to the solar resourcecontribute directly to uncertainties in economic viability. Measurement using ground-based instruments provides the highest accuracy, but at a relatively high initial andoperatingcost,whereas remotelyderiveddata canprovidebroadgeographical coverage.Thisresearchareacoverstechnologiesandmethodstoquantifyandmodelsolarirradiancewith a particular focus on applications in the PV sector. Technologies to quantify solarresource, either in actual or forecast, can overlap by time horizon and application.Researchadvancesinmeasurementwilltargetadvancementonphysicallyandempiricallybasedmodels,whereasapplicationslooktoreducethemagnitudeofPVoperationalrisk.Sub-Area11.1:Ground-basedsolarresourcemeasurementSub-areaChair: JustinRobinson(GroundWorkRenewables)Sub-Area 11.1 welcomes submissions that research techniques in ground-based solarresource measurement. Ground-based solar resource measurements can be a criticalcomponenttoallstagesofPVprojects,includingdevelopmentandoperation.Submissionsthat present various hardware technologies’ ability to quantify solar resource and theassociateduncertaintyarepreferred.Topicsthataddresstheuseofground-basedtoolsforsolarforecastingforenergyforecastingandnear-termapplicationsshouldbesubmittedto11.4and11.5,respectively.Sub-Area 11.2: Remotely derived solar resource measurement and componentmodelingSub-areaChairs: MatthewLave(SandiaNationalLabs)Thissub-areafocusesonthedevelopmentofremotelyderivedmethodsformeasurementofsolarresourceandmodelingofindividualirradiancecomponents.Remotemeasurementtechnologies leverage wide-scale observation platforms, such as satellite networks andfocus on development of physically or empirically based methods. Modeling ofcomponentstargetstheimprovementinmethodsbywhichglobalirradiancemeasurement,either through ground- or remotely derived sources, is separated into individualcomponentssuchasdirectnormalanddiffuse.Sub-Area11.3:SolarresourcecharacterizationspecifictoPVlong-termenergyforecastsSub-AreaChairs: HeidiLarson(LeidosEngineering)

Sub-Area11.3welcomessubmissionsthatapplytheuseofsolarresourcedatainlong-termPV energy forecasts. In thedevelopment of a PVproject, generating a long-termenergyforecast isavital step inquantifying theprojectviability. Advances in theapplicationof

solar resource for long-term energy modeling will target contributions to reducing PVefficiency lossandmodelinguncertainty.Particularareasof interest include, innovationsassociated with improvingmethods for ground-to-satellite tuning of long-term datasets,andassessmentofinter-annualvariabilityrelatedtothedevelopmentofP50,P90,andP99solar resource estimates. Additionally, novel techniques for quantifying holistic projectrisk for financing applications are encouraged. Advancements specific toPV resource topowermodelsshouldsubmittoSub-Area8.3.Sub-Area 11.4: Solar resource characterization specific to PV system performanceandmonitoringSub-areaChairs: RaphaelVarieras(RadianGeneration)ThisSub-areaaddressesthedevelopmentofsolarresourcecharacterizationandmodelingspecifictoPVsystemperformanceprediction.OperationalPVprojectscanbesubjecttoanumber of causes of underperformance relative to their expected energy. Accurateresourcecharacterizationischiefamongthembutequipmentfunctioninthefieldisalsoofinterest. Performance issues related to plant hardware function can be determined bycomparison with PV model output (i.e. Performance index) or directly against solarresource(i.e.Performanceratio). Research in thisareawill focuson thedevelopmentofmodelingtechniquesthatmoreaccuratelypredictactualplantoperation,leadingtohigherproject performance and availability. Topics that focus on soiling as a cause for plantunderperformanceshouldbesubmittedtoSub-Area11.6.Sub-Area 11.5: Forecasting solar resource and PV system performance andapplicationsSub-areaChairs: MelindaMarquis(NOAA)Sub-Area 11.5 looks at technologies specific to solar resource near-term forecasting andapplications. Near-term forecasting extends from current or real-time measurement ofsolar irradiance for prediction into the future, in resolutions spanning from sub-minute,minute to hourly and days-ahead. Papers that explore experimental or novel forecastmodelsareencouraged. Applicationsof irradianceforecastscan includePVmodelingforplantoperationorscheduling.PapersthatfocusonapplicationsinelectricgridintegrationshouldbesubmittedtoSub-Area11.7.Sub-Area 11.6: PV Performance Degradation Due to Soiling (Joint between TopicAreas8,9,and11)Sub-AreaChairs: HassanQasem(DubaiElectricity&WaterAuthority)

Soilingcanbeamajor factor inpowerplantperformance. ThisSub-Area focuseson fieldstudies focused on soiling rates, ground- and satellite-based forecasting of soiling rates,methods forevaluating such rates, and fundamentalphysicsof soiling. Papersonnovelanti-soiling technologies are also encouraged. Papers on permanent panel degradationcausedbysoilingandcleaningoperations(e.g.glassabrasion)shouldbesubmittedtoSub-Area9.3butmaybeconsideredforthissession.

Sub-Area 11.7: Solar Forecasting for Grid Integration of PV (Joint between TopicAreas10and11)Sub-AreaChair: NicholasEngerer(AustralianNationalUniversity)ThistopicfocusesontheuseofsolarforecastsinwaystobestintegratePVintotheelectricgrid. Topics for both distribution and transmission level integrationwill be considered.Papersshouldfocusonthemodelingormeasurementoftheelectricgrid inthechanginglandscapeofelectricsupplyduetoPV.DistributiongridpaperswilllargelyaddressthePVas a “behind-the-meter” application, whereas transmission-level research focuses on“utility-scale”PVplants. PreferredsubmissionsinthistopicareawilltargetnewinsightsintowaystheelectricgridcansuccessfullyoperateunderhighpenetrationPVwiththegoalofcausingminimaleconomicandtechnicalimpacts._______________________________________________

Area12:PVDeploymentandSustainabilityChair: AnnickAnctil,MichiganStateUniversity,USA

Co-Chair: KeiichiKomoto,MizuhoInformation&ResearchInstitute,Japan StefanNowak,ChairmanIEAPVPS,Switzerland AreaDescriptionThe PV Deployment and Sustainability area provides an opportunity to discuss aspectsrequiredtoensurethelong-termsuccessofthePVindustry.ItrepresentsanextensionofthetraditionalscopeoftheconferencewherecurrentconcernsandstrategiestoincreasetheadoptionofPVasamajorelectricitysourcewillbediscussed.AjointsessionbetweenArea8and12focusingonthemanufacturingaspectsispossible.Authorsshouldsubmittotheareaoftheirchoice;abstractsthatarerelevanttotwoareaswillbereviewedbybothareasandwillbeconsideredforinclusioninallrelevantsessions. Sub-Area12.1:Government/Policy/FinancingSub-areaChair: KristenArdani(NationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory)ThistopicfocusesonstrategiestosustainoracceleratehighPVgrowthratesandrapidcostreductions through government, policy, and financing models that are critical to thesuccess of PV deployment. The installed costs of a PV system declined more than 50%between 2010 and 2013, yet certain market barriers continue to inhibit wide scale PVdeployment. This sub-area solicits papers that will help conference participants betterunderstand the government, policy, and finance considerations that are paramount toovercomingthesebarriers.SubArea12.2:SustainabilitySub-AreaChair: GabrielleGaustad(RochesterInstituteofTechnology)

Thisareaseekssubmissionswithabroad,systems-levelperspectiveonthesustainabilityofPV,throughoutthelife-cycle.Thesecanincludeperspectivesonmaterialsupply(e.g.improvingefficiencyofrawmaterialextraction,concernsrelatedtocriticalorscarcematerials),manufacturing(e.g.dematerialization,efficiencygains),usage(e.g.influencinguserbehavior,encouragingadoption),end-of-life(e.g.recyclingtechnologies,toxicityconcerns,disposalpathways)andotheraspectsofthelife-cycle.NovelapproachesandresultsregardingassessingtheenvironmentalimpactsofPVareparticularlyencouraged.Multi-disciplinaryworkcombiningeconomicand/orsocialimpactsisalsoinvited.Submissionsthatconsidermanufacturingsustainabilityandrecyclingmightbecombinedforajointsession.SubArea12.3:WorkforceDevelopmentandEducationSub-AreaChair: AnnickAnctil(MichiganStateUniversity)

Thistopicfocusesonoriginaleducationmethodstopreparetheworkforceforjobsassociatedwithvariousaspectsofphotovoltaicresearch,manufacturingandgridintegration.Innovativeeducationmethodscanincludebutarenotlimitedto

interdisciplinaryapproachesineducation,newteachingmethods,onlineeducation,andhands-onlearning._______________________________________________

Area13:SpecialSessiononPVReportingAccuracy:PVMythBusters!Chair: AshrafAlam,PurdueUniversity,USA

Co-Chairs: TonioBuonassisi,MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology,USA TimothyAnderson,UniversityofMassachusetts,USAAreaDescriptionThe dramatic increase in size of the PV industry and the opportunity to develop manyphotoresponsivematerialshasattractedmanynewparticipantsandincreasedthenumberof papers published each year. Along with this increase has come a divergence fromconsistent reporting practices and a shortage of reviewers who are familiar with thenuances of the science and technology of solar cells. Some sensational claims have beenremovedafterbeingidentifiedaserroneous,butthereremainmanypapersinrespectablejournalsthatmakequestionableclaims.Ofparticularconcernarenewstartupswhoclaimextraordinaryperformanceonvariousaspectsofcell technology;someoftheclaimsmaynotbegroundedinfundamentalphysics.Toward educating ourselves and improving the accuracy of PV reporting, we solicitsubmissions identifying common or interestingmisunderstandings thatwe all can learnfrom. Selected papers will be presented in an evening session and the highest ratedsubmissionwillreceiveafreeconferenceregistration.Weespeciallyencouragestudentstowriteinterestingsubmissionsandwillgivepreferencetoafreeregistrationforadeservingstudent.The“NoPaper,NoPodium”rulethatisstrictlyappliedforPVSCwillnotbeappliedtothisSpecialSession.Theformatofthissessionmaybealittleunconventionalandwillbedesignedtobefunandeducational,givenhoweasilyallofuscanmake(and/ormiss)theseerrors._______________________________________________