Overview:

Product Description:

 

Dye Solar Cell (DSC, 3rd Generation PVs):  This thin-film technology uses a roll-to-roll manufacturing process that is inexpensive and enables the use of flexible substrates. The process can be highly automated by using machinery that is very similar to those used in laminated glass manufacturing plants.

As a result of this simple production process, the overall embodied energy of the cells is very low. As stated in the DCS Solar Technology brochure, “Calculations carried out in Europe and Australia have determined that the manufacturing processes… should result in low embodied energy of 32 kWh per sq. metre with the main contribution due to the embodied energy of the two glass substrates.”  The energy payback period calculation in the DSC Basics section below proves this to be an extremely short payback period.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposites, also known as Titania, attempts to replicate the photosynthetic process in plants. The titania material is referred to as a ‘light sponge’ because of its high surface area, which allows it to perform in less than ideal conditions, such as cloudy, smoky, or shady locations.

DSC Basics:

• Cell efficiency = 9-10%
• Module efficiency = 5-7%
• 0.31 year payback period = (32 kWh/m2) / [(1700 kWh/m2-yr) * 0.06] , where:
• 1700 kWh/m2-yr = average yearly insolation
• 0.06 = average module efficiency

 

 

 

 

Dye-sensitised cell: a dye monolayer chemically absorbed on the semiconductor is a primary absorber of sunlight; free charge carriers are generated by electron injections from a dye molecule, excited by visible raditation.

http://www.sta.com.au/technologies.html

 

Advantages of DSC:

• Much less sensitive to angle of incidence (good in refracted in reflected light)
• Can be designed for operation at very low light levels because of the high internal surface area of titania (‘light sponge’)
• Wide range of optimal temperatures
• Much less sensitive to partial shading
• BIPV
• Manufacturing is cheap and easy, needs only commonly available processing equipment
• Significantly lower embodied energy than other solar cells

Australian Manufacturers of DSC PV modules:

• Sustainable Technologies International

 

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