Light management for high efficiency solar roadways

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Solar energy conversion to clean and renewable electricity by means of solar cells has been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) as one of the key technologies to meet global CO2 reduction targets and mitigate global warming. As our society replaces fossil-combustion based energy with clean electricity, innovation related to integrated and cost-efficient solar technology is needed. Solar Earth Technologies (SET) is working to commercialize road-integrated solar panels or solar roads, which are poised to provide clean energy to the increasing fleet of electric vehicles. Calculations in the United States have shown that an area comparable to today's road coverage is needed to provide the entire country with solar electricity. It is thus a concept that could not only be economical but also impactful on large scale. SET is currently working on a road panel product that will integrate high-efficiency Silicon solar modules for energy generation. Current commercially available solar cells are brittle and optimized for tilt mounting, which are features not conducive for road integration. New solutions that allows for efficient photon collection in ground mounted applications need to be found. SET is further working to develop novel thin-film monocrystalline solar cells, that would increase materials utilization, reduce module energy payback time, and bring down module cost. The indirect bandgap and therefore poor absorption of Silicon, however, necessitates the use of intelligent light management structures to increase the absorption length of photons. Scientists at UBC-O's Laboratory for Solar Energy and Fuels (LSEF) and SET will address these challenges by investigating novel concepts of light trapping features that can be employed post processing, via macroscopic structures, or during processing, via microscopic structures. Research will encompass the evaluation of feasibility and economy of light trapping features for Silicon solar cells through theoretical modelling while at a later stage, optimized concepts will be practically realized and characterized in local laboratory facilities at UBC-O.