Project Name: Comparative Life Cycle Analysis of Scalable Single-Junction and Tandem Perovskite Solar Cell Systems
Funding Opportunity: Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2018 Funding Program (SETO FY2018)
SETO Research Area: Photovoltaics
Location: New York, NY
SETO Award Amount: $200,000
Awardee Cost Share: $50,000
Principal Investigator: Vasilis Fthenakis
-- Award and cost share amounts are subject to change pending negotiations --
The project will compare the lifetimes and environmental impacts of single-junction and tandem perovskite solar cell designs that might be scaled up for manufacturing. The team will compare cell designs and production pathways, as well as other PV technologies and conventional power generation technologies. The results will be used to determine the most scalable, stable, environmentally safe options for large-scale PV manufacturing.
APPROACH
The team will conduct a life cycle analysis to characterize and quantify environmental impacts and other factors that affect (PV) cell efficiency and examine solar cell architectures. They will use data from three PV solar cell designs for this analysis and compare current PV systems with conventional power generation technologies. This will identify limitations and establish the key areas of improvement needed to make cost-competitive, high-performing PV devices.
INNOVATION
Comparing different PV solar cell production pathways can help mitigate challenges in the development, manufacture, and deployment of PV technology. The results of this project will inform the stability and scalability of several production pathways and contribute to a knowledge base about cell architecture, process, cost, emissions, and performance efficiencies that could lead to technology advancements.