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Integration of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) on photobioreactors for improved photoconversion efficiency in microalgal cultivation

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  • Barbera, Elena
  • Sforza, Eleonora
  • Guidobaldi, Andrea
  • Di Carlo, Aldo
  • Bertucco, Alberto

Abstract

Outdoor industrial-scale microalgae cultivation is limited by several factors, among which a low efficiency of overall light energy conversion plays a key role, mainly due to photosaturation and photoinhibition under high irradiations. This work aims at improving the overall photoconversion efficiency in a microalgal production photobioreactor (PBRs), by exploiting an advanced photovoltaic (PV) technology. A semi-transparent dye sensitized solar cells module (DSC) is placed on the irradiated surface, thus absorbing part of the incident light to produce electricity, while transmitted photons are used by algal cells for photosynthesis. Experiments are carried out in a continuous laboratory scale flat-panel PBR, at different constant light intensities and under a day-night irradiation regime, to ascertain the performances of this combined PV-PBR system in terms of biomass productivity and overall photoconversion efficiency, compared to traditional transparent PBRs. The results obtained show that the configuration proposed, combining biomass production with innovative photovoltaics technology, could be a valuable way to improve light energy utilization and efficiency in microalgal production.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbera, Elena & Sforza, Eleonora & Guidobaldi, Andrea & Di Carlo, Aldo & Bertucco, Alberto, 2017. "Integration of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) on photobioreactors for improved photoconversion efficiency in microalgal cultivation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 13-21.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:109:y:2017:i:c:p:13-21
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.03.013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ramos Tercero, Elia Armandina & Domenicali, Giacomo & Bertucco, Alberto, 2014. "Autotrophic production of biodiesel from microalgae: An updated process and economic analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 807-815.
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    1. Talebzadeh, Nima & Rostami, Mohsen & O’Brien, Paul G., 2021. "Elliptic paraboloid-based solar spectrum splitters for self-powered photobioreactors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 1773-1785.
    2. Zouhri, Khalid, 2018. "The effect of iodide and tri-iodide on the dye sensitized solar cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 210-225.
    3. Barbera, Elena & Sforza, Eleonora & Vecchiato, Luca & Bertucco, Alberto, 2017. "Energy and economic analysis of microalgae cultivation in a photovoltaic-assisted greenhouse: Scenedesmus obliquus as a case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 116-124.
    4. La Notte, Luca & Giordano, Lorena & Calabrò, Emanuele & Bedini, Roberto & Colla, Giuseppe & Puglisi, Giovanni & Reale, Andrea, 2020. "Hybrid and organic photovoltaics for greenhouse applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    5. Carlos Toledo & Alessandra Scognamiglio, 2021. "Agrivoltaic Systems Design and Assessment: A Critical Review, and a Descriptive Model towards a Sustainable Landscape Vision (Three-Dimensional Agrivoltaic Patterns)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-38, June.

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