Ubiquitous Solar: Novel solar energy devices and systems costing less than $1/W

太阳能正在彻底改变我们在世界各地生产和分配能源的方式。这项研究将为快速发展的太阳能产业和对太阳能的需求培养必要的技术人才，促进有效的知识转移，满足加拿大现有和未来产业的就业需求。 拟议的研究将开发新的太阳能电池和系统设计，使其系统价格低于1美元/瓦，并与全球大多数地区的电网价格相匹配。实现这一目标需要更低的成本和更高的功率转换效率。通过最小化系统复杂性、改进系统设计以及降低材料成本和使用，可以实现低成本制造。更高的效率增加了单位面积提取的功率，降低了土地、材料和其他系统组件的成本。同时优化成本和效率，以达到电网等效定价。 “无处不在的太阳能”这个标题是指该解决方案的通用性，无论是小规模还是大规模部署，无论是并网还是隔离使用，无论是在阳光照射量低还是高的地方，都能实现最大发电量。该计划将侧重于三个关键的创新流： 流1 - 50%效率光伏（PV）电池（2/5预算） 在任何光伏系统中，太阳能电池效率提高10%通常会带来20%的投资回报率，从而降低电力成本。实现高效率的最有效途径是采用多结太阳能电池结构。三种设计方法（晶圆键合，光谱分离，机械堆叠）将被评估的性能高于目前最好的设备。有可能实际实现50%效率的选项将被原型化。 流2 -下一代集中光伏系统（2/5预算） 聚光器将大面积的太阳光聚焦到小型光伏电池上。我们将研究，设计和调试新的浓缩器系统，该系统集成了Stream 1的新型高效电池。我们将开发新的混合系统，包括定期平板电池，以补充集中系统的地区或条件下，直接正常照明是间歇性的或一贯低。这些设计提供了潜力，以产生最高的年度能源每峰值功率的任何系统。 流3 -纳米网格集成光伏和光伏（1/5预算） 纳米电网是一种小型管理的本地系统（AC或DC），可单独运行或简化与电网的连接。它们可以包括太阳能电池和本地存储（电池，电容器），以确保在停电或低日照期间的连续备份。我们将最大限度地提高太阳能发电在电网中的比例，优化光伏机组，使其与电网和储能系统顺利配合。这将包括直接向电子设备提供直流电源的选项（例如，计算机）通常需要电源适配器。

Solar power is revolutionizing the way we generate and distribute energy around the world. This research will develop the skilled personnel necessary for the rapidly expanding solar industry and demand for solar power, promoting effective knowledge transfer and filling employment needs of existing and future Canadian industry. The proposed research will develop new solar cell and system designs capable of <$1/Watt system prices and matching grid pricing in most locations worldwide. Achieving this goal requires lower costs and higher power conversion efficiencies. Lower cost manufacturing is possible by minimizing system complexity, improving system design, and lowering material cost and usage. Higher efficiency increases the power extracted per unit area, reducing costs of land, materials, and other system components. Simultaneous optimization of both cost and efficiency is required to reach grid-equivalent pricing. The title ‘Ubiquitous Solar’ refers to the universality of the solution, whether for small- or large-scale deployment, for on-grid or isolated use, and for maximum power generation in low or high sunlight locations. The program will focus on 3 key innovation streams: Stream 1 - 50% EFFICIENT PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) CELLS (2/5 budget) In any PV system, a 10% increase in solar cell efficiency typically yields a 20% higher return on investment, reducing the cost of electricity. The most effective path to high efficiencies is with a multi-junction solar cell structure. Three design approaches (wafer bonding, spectral splitting, and mechanical stacking) will be evaluated for performance higher than the best devices presently available. Options with the potential to realistically achieve 50% efficiency will be prototyped. Stream 2 - NEXT GENERATION CONCENTRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS (2/5 budget) Concentrator optics focus large areas of sunlight onto small PV cells. We will study, design and characterise new concentrator systems which integrate the novel higher efficiency cells of Stream 1. We will develop new hybrid systems incorporating regular flat panel cells to complement the concentrated system in regions or conditions where direct normal illumination is intermittent or consistently low. These designs offer the potential to yield the highest yearly energy per peak-power of any system available. Stream 3 - NANOGRIDS INTEGRATING PHOTOVOLTAICS AND STORAGE (1/5 budget) Nanogrids are small managed local systems (AC or DC) that operate separately or simplify connection to the grid. They can include solar cells and local storage (batteries,  capacitors) to ensure continuous back-up during power cuts or low-sunlight periods. We will maximize the proportion of solar power possible on the grid, optimizing the PV units to work smoothly with the grid and storage systems. This will include options for direct DC supply to electronics (e.g., computers) that normally require power adapters.