The three-year objective of the project was to facilitate the development of high-efficiency, low-cost photovoltaic (PV) generation systems, also providing a contribution to optimizing the energy production of PV systems installed in Italy. The aim was to contribute to achieving the 2030 PNIEC objectives, which envisage a PV power of 52 GW and an annual production of 73 TWh, as well as to provide technological support to companies to consistently participate in this phase of PV technology development.
The activities covered by the 2021 reporting made it possible to pursue the results expected in the three-year period.
In the first of the 3 Work Packages of the project (WP1 “Concentrated Solar Photovoltaics”), these activities mainly concerned the following:
1) development of 4-junction concentrated solar photovoltaic (CPV) cells based on the integration (in the same MOCVD growth chamber) of III-V compounds with those of group IV
2) creation of the first prototypes of 2-junction sub-cells of the 4-junction and 3-terminal cell,
3) strengthening of the system for measuring the Spectral Response and Quantum Efficiency of 4-junction cells;
4) optimization of InGaP single-junction cells, with a 100% increase in the power of the luminescent modules made with these cells compared to those made with Si cells;
5) optimization of the shape memory biaxial solar tracking system and its effective implementation into the CPV-PV hybrid module ;
6) development of a thermophotovoltaic cell with an innovative dual-function filter for domestic microgeneration.
In WP2 “Photovoltaic plan”, the activities concerned the following:
1) study of the use of materials highly available in nature for the production of PV cells, analyzing the growth processes of CFTS and CMTS thin films , as well as creating the first functional prototypes;
2) efficiency and experimentation of the management of PV systems through the use of Machine Learning techniques for the detection, identification, and diagnosis of faults in PV systems, which can contribute to reducing Operation and Maintenance times/costs (O&M), as well as through the optimization of the MPPT algorithm of PV inverters and the implementation of diagnostic functions on the PV strings connected to it.
Finally, in WP3 “Solar Source and Environment” georeferenced maps of direct normal solar radiation (DNI) over Italy were created, which can be used for CPV systems and for single-axis solar tracking PV systems. The assessment of the potential environmental impacts associated with the HJT, PERC ,and IBC modules (the three PV technologies with the highest efficiencies) was also conducted via Life Cycle Assessment; this makes up for the small number of LCA studies so far, allowing a comparison between PV technologies and the Italian energy mix.
The activities also involved the dissemination of results and the exchange of information with stakeholders, research centers, and PV operators for initiatives aimed at accelerating the penetration of PV systems in the national energy system, the definition of strategic and R&I implementation plans for national and international level (ETP-PV, IEA PVPS), and the development of technical standardization (CEI, CENELEC, and IEC).