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Practical development of efficient thermoelectric – Photovoltaic hybrid systems based on wide-gap solar cells

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  • Lorenzi, Bruno
  • Mariani, Paolo
  • Reale, Andrea
  • Di Carlo, Aldo
  • Chen, Gang
  • Narducci, Dario

Abstract

The decrease of solar cell efficiency with temperature is a known problem for photovoltaics (PV). Temperature sensitivity can lead to a considerable amount of energy losses over the lifetime of solar panels. In this perspective Hybrid Thermoelectric-Photovoltaic (HTEPV) systems, which recover solar cell heat losses to produce an additional power output, can be a suitable option. However only hybridization of wide-gap solar cells is convenient in terms of efficiency gains and deserves investigation to evaluate HTEPV devices effectiveness. In this work we report the modeling and the development of customized bismuth telluride thermoelectric generators, optimized to be hybridized with amorphous silicon (aSi), Gallium Indium Phosphide (GaInP) or Perovskites solar cells. The model results showed in all three cases efficiency gains with a maximum of +3.1% for Perovskites (from 16.4% to 19.5%). These enhancements were then experimentally validated for the case of Perovskites solar cells, for which maximum gains were found to occur at typical operating temperatures of conventional PVs. This experimental evaluation demonstrated in an accurate fashion the real potential of thermoelectric hybridization of solar cells.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorenzi, Bruno & Mariani, Paolo & Reale, Andrea & Di Carlo, Aldo & Chen, Gang & Narducci, Dario, 2021. "Practical development of efficient thermoelectric – Photovoltaic hybrid systems based on wide-gap solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:300:y:2021:i:c:s0306261921007510
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117343
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    1. Wolfgang Tress & Konrad Domanski & Brian Carlsen & Anand Agarwalla & Essa A. Alharbi & Michael Graetzel & Anders Hagfeldt, 2019. "Performance of perovskite solar cells under simulated temperature-illumination real-world operating conditions," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(7), pages 568-574, July.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Han, Jingyang & Li, Haoyue & Li, Yong & Hou, Shiqi, 2023. "Spectral splitting solar energy transfer in small-diameter multimode optical fiber based on two-stage concentration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 47-59.
    4. Zhao, Qin & Li, Jianming & Zhang, Houcheng, 2024. "Synergizing perovskite solar cell and thermoelectric generator for broad-spectrum utilization: Model updating, performance assessment and optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).

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