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A review of transparent solar photovoltaic technologies

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  • Husain, Alaa A.F.
  • Hasan, Wan Zuha W.
  • Shafie, Suhaidi
  • Hamidon, Mohd N.
  • Pandey, Shyam Sudhir

Abstract

Energy is essential for economic development and growth. With the rapid growth of development and the drive to expand the economy, society demands more electricity. Coupled with the realisation that unsustainable energy production can have a detrimental effect on our environment. Solar energy is the most prolific method of energy capture in nature. The economic drive to make solar cells more cost effective and efficient has driven developments in many different deposition technologies, including dipping, plating, thick film deposition and thin film deposition. Typically, in order for solar energy to work efficiently and supply energy to a building, a very large amount of space is required, in the form of rooftops or land, in order to install solar panels; these solar panel space requirements are a large impediment to practical usage. This drawback drove researchers to come up with transparent solar cells (TSCs), which solves the problem by turning any sheet of glass into a photovoltaic solar cell. These cells provide power by absorbing and utilising unwanted light energy through windows in buildings and automobiles, which leads to an efficient use of architectural space. There are approximately nine transparent photovoltaic (TPV) technologies under development, and studies regarding these technologies aim to achieve high transparency along with electrical performance that is compatible with solar panels that are sold in the market. The main objective of this review paper is to state all the latest reported technologies from the year 2007 onwards on transparent photovoltaic technologies with at least 20% average transmission. This includes demonstrating the process used in each technology (including the materials and the methods) and explaining its advantages and disadvantages from a performance, aesthetic and financial perspective. Therefore, this study provides a crucial review on the latest developments in the field of TSCs.

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  • Husain, Alaa A.F. & Hasan, Wan Zuha W. & Shafie, Suhaidi & Hamidon, Mohd N. & Pandey, Shyam Sudhir, 2018. "A review of transparent solar photovoltaic technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 779-791.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:94:y:2018:i:c:p:779-791
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2018.06.031
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    15. 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.
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    17. Geon Lee & Hyunjung Kang & Jooyeong Yun & Dongwoo Chae & Minsu Jeong & Minseo Jeong & Dasol Lee & Miso Kim & Heon Lee & Junsuk Rho, 2024. "Integrated triboelectric nanogenerator and radiative cooler for all-weather transparent glass surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Jouttijärvi, Sami & Lobaccaro, Gabriele & Kamppinen, Aleksi & Miettunen, Kati, 2022. "Benefits of bifacial solar cells combined with low voltage power grids at high latitudes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
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    20. Moh’d Al-Nimr & Abdallah Milhem & Basel Al-Bishawi & Khaleel Al Khasawneh, 2020. "Integrating Transparent and Conventional Solar Cells TSC/SC," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-22, September.
    21. Safat Dipta, Shahriyar & Schoenlaub, Jean & Habibur Rahaman, Md & Uddin, Ashraf, 2022. "Estimating the potential for semitransparent organic solar cells in agrophotovoltaic greenhouses," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).

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