IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v324y2022ics0306261922010431.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Theoretic efficiency limit and design criteria of solar photovoltaics with high visual perceptibility

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Zhenpeng
  • Ma, Tao

Abstract

Building facades and rooftops provide extensive potential areas for photovoltaic (PV) installation, enabling building-integrated PVs (BIPV) of great interest. PV panels' poor aesthetics, on the other hand, are a key barrier to the wider adoption of BIPV. Although certain PV colorization methods have been developed, the colors obtained are still restricted, particularly those brilliant and low-saturation hues that are desirable for architectural decoration. One concern, therefore, arises whether solar PV can attain high visual perceptibility while also being efficient. To answer this question, here we present a thorough analysis that has quantified the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limits of ideal opaque solar cells with varying lightness. Furthermore, we establish a method for estimating the performance of a real solar cell after colorization. The results suggest that for ideal solar cells with neutral colors that have lightness over 80, the highest efficiency could range between 20.4 % and 25.9 %, with an optimum bandgap between 0.95 and 1.15 eV. The absolute value of over 2 % in efficiency could be further improved if the optimal reflectance is applied to minimize efficiency loss. For the current state-of-the-art solar cell technology, an efficiency limit of 19.8 % is available with the pure white color (RAL 9001). As a result, it could be estimated that silicon solar cells with high visual perceptibility and efficiency limits between 15.4 % and 20.4 % are practically achievable. This study demonstrates its theoretical feasibility, and also inspires the design criteria and evaluation method for practical implementation of solar PVs with high visual perceptibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Zhenpeng & Ma, Tao, 2022. "Theoretic efficiency limit and design criteria of solar photovoltaics with high visual perceptibility," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:324:y:2022:i:c:s0306261922010431
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119761
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261922010431
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119761?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christopher J. Traverse & Richa Pandey & Miles C. Barr & Richard R. Lunt, 2017. "Emergence of highly transparent photovoltaics for distributed applications," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(11), pages 849-860, November.
    2. Tsai, Chin-Yi & Tsai, Chin-Yao, 2020. "See-through, light-through, and color modules for large-area tandem amorphous/microcrystalline silicon thin-film solar modules: Technology development and practical considerations for building-integra," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 2637-2646.
    3. Shen, Lu & Li, Zhenpeng & Ma, Tao, 2020. "Analysis of the power loss and quantification of the energy distribution in PV module," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    4. Steven Chu & Arun Majumdar, 2012. "Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future," Nature, Nature, vol. 488(7411), pages 294-303, August.
    5. Hyunho Lee & Hyung‐Jun Song, 2021. "Current status and perspective of colored photovoltaic modules," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(6), November.
    6. Marzo, Aitor & Ferrada, Pablo & Beiza, Felipe & Besson, Pierre & Alonso-Montesinos, Joaquín & Ballestrín, Jesús & Román, Roberto & Portillo, Carlos & Escobar, Rodrigo & Fuentealba, Edward, 2018. "Standard or local solar spectrum? Implications for solar technologies studies in the Atacama desert," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 871-882.
    7. Peharz, Gerhard & Berger, Karl & Kubicek, Bernhard & Aichinger, Martin & Grobbauer, Michael & Gratzer, Julia & Nemitz, Wolfgang & Großschädl, Bettina & Auer, Christine & Prietl, Christine & Waldhauser, 2017. "Application of plasmonic coloring for making building integrated PV modules comprising of green solar cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 542-550.
    8. Kunta Yoshikawa & Hayato Kawasaki & Wataru Yoshida & Toru Irie & Katsunori Konishi & Kunihiro Nakano & Toshihiko Uto & Daisuke Adachi & Masanori Kanematsu & Hisashi Uzu & Kenji Yamamoto, 2017. "Silicon heterojunction solar cell with interdigitated back contacts for a photoconversion efficiency over 26%," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(5), pages 1-8, May.
    9. Peharz, Gerhard & Ulm, Andreas, 2018. "Quantifying the influence of colors on the performance of c-Si photovoltaic devices," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 299-308.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Martina Pelle & Francesco Causone & Laura Maturi & David Moser, 2023. "Opaque Coloured Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV): A Review of Models and Simulation Frameworks for Performance Optimisation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-20, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mikhail Vasiliev & Mohammad Nur-E-Alam & Kamal Alameh, 2019. "Recent Developments in Solar Energy-Harvesting Technologies for Building Integration and Distributed Energy Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Mohammad Khairul Basher & Mohammad Nur-E Alam & Kamal Alameh, 2021. "Design, Development, and Characterization of Low Distortion Advanced Semitransparent Photovoltaic Glass for Buildings Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-11, June.
    3. Hyunho Lee & Hyung‐Jun Song, 2021. "Current status and perspective of colored photovoltaic modules," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(6), November.
    4. Martina Pelle & Francesco Causone & Laura Maturi & David Moser, 2023. "Opaque Coloured Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV): A Review of Models and Simulation Frameworks for Performance Optimisation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Zhu, Rui & Wong, Man Sing & You, Linlin & Santi, Paolo & Nichol, Janet & Ho, Hung Chak & Lu, Lin & Ratti, Carlo, 2020. "The effect of urban morphology on the solar capacity of three-dimensional cities," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 1111-1126.
    6. Wang, Yubao & Huang, Xiaozhou & Huang, Zhendong, 2024. "Energy-related uncertainty and Chinese stock market returns," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PB).
    7. Chen, Xuejun & Yang, Yongming & Cui, Zhixin & Shen, Jun, 2019. "Vibration fault diagnosis of wind turbines based on variational mode decomposition and energy entropy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 1100-1109.
    8. Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman & Luigi Coppola & Ernestino Lufrano & Isabella Nicotera & Cataldo Simari, 2023. "Enhancing Water Retention, Transport, and Conductivity Performance in Fuel Cell Applications: Nafion-Based Nanocomposite Membranes with Organomodified Graphene Oxide Nanoplatelets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-11, November.
    9. Pin Li & Jinsuo Zhang, 2019. "Is China’s Energy Supply Sustainable? New Research Model Based on the Exponential Smoothing and GM(1,1) Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-30, January.
    10. Jae Yun Jeong & Inje Kang & Ki Seok Choi & Byeong-Hee Lee, 2018. "Network Analysis on Green Technology in National Research and Development Projects in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-12, April.
    11. Mao, Guozhu & Zou, Hongyang & Chen, Guanyi & Du, Huibin & Zuo, Jian, 2015. "Past, current and future of biomass energy research: A bibliometric analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1823-1833.
    12. Luo, Rongrong & Wang, Liuwei & Yu, Wei & Shao, Feilong & Shen, Haikuo & Xie, Huaqing, 2023. "High energy storage density titanium nitride-pentaerythritol solid–solid composite phase change materials for light-thermal-electric conversion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    13. Zimmerman, Ryan & Panda, Anurag & Bulović, Vladimir, 2020. "Techno-economic assessment and deployment strategies for vertically-mounted photovoltaic panels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    14. Chen, Dongfang & Pan, Lyuming & Pei, Pucheng & Huang, Shangwei & Ren, Peng & Song, Xin, 2021. "Carbon-coated oxygen vacancies-rich Co3O4 nanoarrays grow on nickel foam as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc-air batteries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    15. Géremi Gilson Dranka & Paula Ferreira, 2020. "Electric Vehicles and Biofuels Synergies in the Brazilian Energy System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-22, August.
    16. Yang, Jingluan & Chen, Wei, 2023. "Unravelling the landscape of global cobalt trade: Patterns, robustness, and supply chain security," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    17. Mehmood, Haris & Nasser, Hisham & Zaidi, Syed Muhammad Hassan & Tauqeer, Tauseef & Turan, Raşit, 2022. "Physical device simulation of dopant-free asymmetric silicon heterojunction solar cell featuring tungsten oxide as a hole-selective layer with ultrathin silicon oxide passivation layer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 188-201.
    18. Gorjian, Shiva & Bousi, Erion & Özdemir, Özal Emre & Trommsdorff, Max & Kumar, Nallapaneni Manoj & Anand, Abhishek & Kant, Karunesh & Chopra, Shauhrat S., 2022. "Progress and challenges of crop production and electricity generation in agrivoltaic systems using semi-transparent photovoltaic technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    19. Lili Zhang & Ning Zhang & Huishan Shang & Zhiyi Sun & Zihao Wei & Jingtao Wang & Yuanting Lei & Xiaochen Wang & Dan Wang & Yafei Zhao & Zhongti Sun & Fang Zhang & Xu Xiang & Bing Zhang & Wenxing Chen, 2024. "High-density asymmetric iron dual-atom sites for efficient and stable electrochemical water oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    20. Neves, Renato Cruz & Klein, Bruno Colling & da Silva, Ricardo Justino & Rezende, Mylene Cristina Alves Ferreira & Funke, Axel & Olivarez-Gómez, Edgardo & Bonomi, Antonio & Maciel-Filho, Rubens, 2020. "A vision on biomass-to-liquids (BTL) thermochemical routes in integrated sugarcane biorefineries for biojet fuel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:324:y:2022:i:c:s0306261922010431. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.