The Future in Solar Panels

Dane Goodman&

Samuel Oyen

Table of Contents

I. World Record Efficiency

II. Thermal Emitters

III. Calculations

IV. Energy Consumption Graph

V. Solar Landmass Graph

VI. Solar Collection in Germany

VII. Sources

World Record Efficiency

44.7 % Efficiency

The Fraunhofer Institute (Berlin)

Uses concentrator photovoltaics

Confirms accelerating trends

Fraunhofer’s Solar CellConstructed with wafer bonding technology

4 solar subcell structure

III-V semi-conductors

Fraunhofer’s Solar Cell

Thermal Emitters

Silicon semiconductors can only absorb infrared light

New research: thermophotovoltaic technology consisting of an absorber and nanostructured tungsten emitter

Allows utilization of the visible spectrum of light

Estimates indicate an increase of solar efficiency to as high as 80%

• Tungsten emitter coated in a nanolayer of ceramic hafnium dioxide

• “Remains stable at temperatures as high as 2500 F”

Unprotected Tungsten (1200 oC)

Global Solar Panel Requirements: Calculations

Assumptions660 ZJ/yr. useful solar energy available on Earth329 GJ/yr. energy consumption per personUN Population Division population estimates2012 maximum commercial collector efficiencyFraunhofer ISE 2013 world record efficiencyPotential efficiency with nano-material thermal

emittersCarnot limit for solar efficiency$7/watt installed cost of solar panels

A Solar Planet

Year Global Population Global Energy Consumption (ZJ/yr.)

Collector Efficiency (%)

Energy Collected (ZJ/yr.)

Global Landmass Covered (%) Cost ($)

2011 6,997,998,760 2.302 15 99 2.325 2.197E+16

2011 6,997,998,760 2.302 27 178.2 1.292 3.955E+16

2014 7,220,953,101 2.376 15 99 2.400 2.197E+16

2014 7,220,953,101 2.376 27 178.2 1.333 3.955E+16

2014 7,220,953,101 2.376 44.7 295 0.805 6.548E+16

2030 8,424,937,474 2.772 15 99 2.800 2.197E+16

2030 8,424,937,474 2.772 44.7 295 0.940 6.548E+16

2030 8,424,937,474 2.772 80 528 0.525 1.172E+17

2030 8,424,937,474 2.772 86 567.6 0.488 4.844E+17

2050 9,550,944,891 3.142 15 99 3.174 2.197E+16

2050 9,550,944,891 3.142 44.7 295 1.065 6.548E+16

2050 9,550,944,891 3.142 80 528 0.595 1.172E+17

2050 9,550,944,891 3.142 86 567.6 0.554 4.844E+17

Global Energy Consumption

2011 2014 2030 20500

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Year

Energy Consumed (ZJ/yr.)

Solar Collection in Germany

400 MW per million people, number one in the world

130 gigawatts of PV power in world, 35 in Germany

7% of Germany’s electricity from solar power

Goal of 80% renewable energies by 2050

Sources

CalculationsHubbert, Energy Resources, pg. 4 http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=85&t=1 http://www.geohive.com/earth/his_history3.aspx http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ http://sroeco.com/solar/most-efficient-solar-panels http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/press-and-media/press-releases/

presseinformationen-2013/world-record-solar-cell-with-44.7-efficiency http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/168811-new-nano-material-could-boost-

solar-panel-efficiency-as-high-as-80 http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/catching-energy-from-

the-sun/ http://solarpowerauthority.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-install-solar-on-an-

average-us-house/

Otherhttp://cleantechnica.com/2013/10/19/vastly-improved-solar-cells-use-new-heat-

resistant-materials/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/business/energy-environment/solar-power-

begins-to-shine-as-environmental-benefits-pay-off.html?_r=0

Thank You