Phase II IUCRC at The University of Texas at Austin: Center for Next Generation Photovoltaics

能源可持续性是现代社会面临的重大挑战之一，太阳能是可再生能源的重要来源。光伏(PV)，或太阳能电池，是将阳光直接转化为电能的固态半导体设备。下一代光伏产业/大学合作研究中心(IUCRC)的愿景和长期目标是帮助将光伏发电确立为美国和世界的主要能源。NGPV由德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校(德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校，领先站点)、科罗拉多州立大学(CSU)和德克萨斯农工大学(College Station and Central Texas；TAMU；TAMU)的研究站点组成。NGPV第二阶段继续关注光伏行业快速发展的研发需求，包括光伏设备材料、制造和设计，以及各种重要的软成本问题，如系统平衡、设备维护和运营、部署、政策和教育。NGPV研究专注于光伏行业快速发展的研发需求，包括光伏器件材料、制造和设计，以及各种重要的软成本问题，如系统平衡、设备维护和运营、部署、政策和教育。预计到2030年，全球光伏发电总装机容量将达到10TW，相当于全球预期能源消耗的5%左右。要实现这种规模的光伏部署，必须降低光伏系统的总成本，同时提高能源转换效率、可靠性和寿命。必须显著提高以成本效益制造太阳能电池的能力和系统组件的平衡，必须继续改进将光伏并入公用电网的方法，以确保负担得起和可靠的电力。德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校正在进行NGPV研究，以应对这些关键的技术挑战，以及PV的新兴领域，如物联网系统、可穿戴设备和电动汽车的便携式电源。德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校还在开展光伏能源储存方面的研究，开展新的教育活动，以培养社会对新兴光伏技术能力的欣赏和理解，并让K-5教师接触光伏。NGPV鼓励跨学科以及学术研究人员和行业合作伙伴之间的互动和交流，以促进经济增长，并为光伏行业创造一支多样化的、训练有素的劳动力队伍。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Energy sustainability represents one of the grand challenges facing modern society, and solar power provides an important source of renewable energy. Photovoltaics (PVs), or solar cells, are solid-state semiconductor devices that convert sunlight directly to electricity. The vision and long-term goal of the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) for Next Generation Photovoltaics (NGPV) is to help establish PV electricity as a major source of energy in the United States and the world. NGPV consists of research sites at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, lead site), Colorado State University (CSU) and Texas A&M University (College Station and Central Texas; TAMU). Phase II of NGPV has continued to focus on the rapidly evolving research and development needs of the PV industry to include PV device materials, manufacturing and design, and the variety of important soft cost issues such as balance of systems, device maintenance and operation, deployment, policy and education. NGPV research focuses on the rapidly evolving research and development needs of the PV industry, including PV device materials, manufacturing and design, and the variety of important soft cost issues such as balance of systems, device maintenance and operation, deployment, policy and education. The total global PV capacity is anticipated to reach 10 TW by 2030, which corresponds to about 5% of the anticipated global energy consumption. To reach PV deployment of this magnitude, the total cost of PV systems must be reduced while simultaneously increasing energy conversion efficiency, reliability and lifetime. The capacity to cost-effectively manufacture solar cells and balance of systems components must be significantly increased, and methods to integrate PV into the utility grid must continue to improve to ensure affordable and reliable electricity. NGPV research at the UT Austin site is being carried out to address these key technological challenges, as well as emerging areas of PVs, as in portable power for internet-things systems, wearable devices, and electric vehicles. The UT Austin site is also carrying out research on PV energy storage, developing new educational activities to foster societal appreciation and understanding of emerging PV technological capability, and exposing K-5 teachers to PVs. NGPV encourages interaction and communication across disciplines and between academic researchers and industry partners to catalyze economic growth and create a diverse, highly trained workforce for the PV industry.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.