Solar batteries new technologies. New solar panels are twice as efficient as traditional ones - eco-technology

Ecology of consumption. Science and technology: Swiss physicists have demonstrated the operation of a new generation of solar cells that have record high efficiency and at the same time remain quite cheap compared to conventional solar cells.

Swiss physicists have demonstrated the operation of a new generation of solar cells that have record high efficiency and at the same time remain quite cheap compared to conventional solar cells.

Films made from an analogue of an unusual natural mineral helped physicists in Switzerland create a new type of cheap solar cells that convert a record 20% of the energy of sunlight into electricity, according to an article published in the journal Nature.

“The best prototype perovskite solar cells use special materials that are very difficult to manufacture and purify. Their minimum cost is about 300 euros per gram of substance, which makes their commercial use impossible. By comparison, our substance, FDT, is easy to make and five times cheaper, yet has the same properties,” said Mohammad Nazeeruddin from the EPFL.

In recent years, scientists have created several exotic materials that can increase the efficiency of solar cells several times. In particular, the attention of physicists is increasingly attracted by the mineral perovskite and its synthetic analogues, thin films of which are semiconductors that are good at converting light energy into electricity.

Most light-absorbing materials have a symmetrical crystal structure, which allows electrons to flow freely in different directions. Perovskite has a cubic crystal lattice formed by atoms of a single metal. Inside each cube there is an octahedron formed by oxygen atoms, inside of which sits an atom of another metal.

The interaction between these atoms causes electrons to flow in the same direction, which is why perovskite solar cells have extremely high efficiency, about 12-15%. Naziruddin and his colleagues were able to achieve even higher levels of efficiency without increasing the cost of the battery by creating the FDT substance.

It falls into the category of so-called “hole carriers” - special substances that help remove positive charges, so-called “holes”, from the perovskite film after light particles enter it and “knock” electrons out of it. In terms of its chemical structure, FDT is a small aromatic hydrocarbon molecule, similar in shape to a butterfly with large wings.

The tips of the wings of this “butterfly” cling to the surface of the perovskite film, and its lower part interacts with the iodine atoms, which serve as a source of “holes” and electrons, and causes them to quickly return to their working position after light knocks the next electron out of the perovskite crystal.

Thanks to its unusual properties, a solar cell coated with a thin layer of FDT is capable of achieving a record efficiency to date - over 20.2%, which is slightly higher than solar cells based on more expensive “hole carriers”. Scientists hope that their discovery will bring us closer to the emergence of truly effective “green” energy sources. published

Today, of all the alternative energy sources known to mankind, the most popular are solar panels, batteries and other generators based on solar energy. Given the current cost of energy costs, many are interested in where to buy solar panels for their home, what their prices are and whether there are ready-made solutions. And since the rise in the exchange rate directly affects the paying ability of the population, more and more citizens are trying to learn more about Russian-made panels.

What are solar panels and how are they used for the home?

Despite the fact that this type of energy supply to homes has been around for more than 30 years, there are not many specialists in this field. Why is using solar panels for a private home so beneficial? The answer is simple: you only need to pay for the equipment and installation, after which the energy is free! In countries such as China, the United States, France, Italy and Germany, up to 30% of the population is installing rooftop batteries to harness billions of endless kilowatts of solar energy. If it's free, what's the secret?

The principle of battery operation is as follows: imagine semiconductors made of crystals (for example, silicon), which convert light quanta into components of electric current. The panel contains hundreds of thousands of such crystals. Depending on the required power, the area of ​​such coverage ranges from a couple of square centimeters (remember the calculator) to hundreds of square meters - for example, for orbital stations.

Despite the apparent simplicity of the devices, their use in Russia is very limited - by climate, weather, time of year and day. Plus, in order for the system to supply current to the network, you need to purchase:

• a battery that will store energy in case of voltage surges;
• an inverter that will convert direct current into alternating current;
• system that monitors battery charge.

Briefly about consumption

The average family of 4 consumes 250–300 kW per month. Solar modules for household use produce an average of 100 W per 1 sq. m per day (in clear weather). In order to power the entire house, you need to install at least 30, ideally 40 sections, which will cost at least 10,000 USD. e. In this case, the roof should be oriented to the south, and the number of sunny days per month on average should not be less than 18–20. Below is a map of sunny days.

Conclusion: solar panels are good as a backup source of electrical energy. In addition, you need to know how to select them so that the power is enough to meet household needs. But, regardless of accidents, your home will always be supplied with electricity.

1. Panels from CJSC Telecom-STV

The Russian company Telecom-STV (Zelenograd) produces products on average 30% cheaper than their German counterparts: prices start from 5,600 rubles. for 100 W panels. Panels from this manufacturer have an efficiency of up to 20–21%. The main feature of this enterprise was the patented technology for manufacturing silicon wafers with a diameter of up to 15 mm and solar modules based on them.

Which battery from Telecom-STV CJSC can I look at? The most popular model is called TSM, then it is marked depending on the power: from 15 to 230 W (the price is approximate).

The main type of panels produced is monocrystalline, although each model can also be presented as multi (poly-) crystalline. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages (see table).

The choice, of course, is limited by budget capabilities, so we will continue our review of other inexpensive and reliable devices from Russian manufacturers.

2. Hevel – plant in Chuvashia

One of the largest manufacturers of solar panels in Russia is the Hevel company. In 2017, the company modernized its production and switched from thin-film to new heterostructure technology for the manufacture of solar modules. New generation modules combine the advantages of thin-film and crystalline technologies, ensuring efficient operation of the module at high and low temperatures (from -50 ° C to + 85 ° C), as well as in diffuse light conditions. The average efficiency of a solar module is 20%. According to this indicator, Hevel Group modules are among the world's top three. The module service life is at least 25 years.

Which battery from Hevel can you look at as an example? Here is a table with the parameters of the most popular heterostructural module:

3. Ryazan ZMKP

The Ryazan plant of metal-ceramic devices has been operating since 1963, but since 2002 it has switched to the ISO 9001 international quality control system and produces panels strictly in accordance with its requirements, as well as with GOST 12.2.007-75 standards.

In the company's price list you can find two current RZMP models with a power of 130 and 220 W. Their efficiency varies from 12 to 17.1%. Solar cells are applied to a painted aluminum base using a series connection method. Here are their comparative characteristics:

RZMP 130-T is suitable for autonomous supply of individual rooms and household appliances (for example, a heating boiler). A more powerful model, from 220 to 240 W, is purchased more often for backup power supply to the whole house. Its cost varies from 13,200 to 14,400 rubles. per module.

4. Krasnodar "Saturn"

Kuban-made panels have been produced since 1971; during this period the company has produced more than 20,000 square meters of products. Saturn uses two proprietary production technologies - based on monocrystalline grown silicon or gallium arsenide with a germanium substrate. The latter show the highest possible performance and are used to supply critical facilities (gas stations, continuous cycle enterprises, etc.)

Both types of modules can be made on any frame, from mesh and film to metal (anodized aluminum) and string types. Photoelectric converters can be:

• with polished surface;
• with built-in diodes;
• with aluminum mirror.

Here are the main energy characteristics of the Saturn solar cell, depending on the type:

These characteristics are relevant for carriers of any size: at the Saturn enterprise you can order both prefabricated modules for the roof of a cottage and miniature solar panels for sensors, converters, electrical products, as well as batteries. Price lists will only be provided to you in the sales department.

5. Solar Wind

This enterprise is located in Ukraine. There is a similar enterprise in Russia, which acts rather as an investor and implementer. Solar Wind produces solar modules with capacities from 1 to 15 kW/h. Depending on the purpose and power, the module can contain from a couple to several dozen batteries. Thus, a 1,000 W battery includes 5 modules, one 30 A charge controller, a 150 A/h battery (2 pieces in a set) and a 1,200 V inverter. The battery life is up to 18 years.

Advice: if you buy Solar Wind equipment to provide year-round energy to a residential building, you should take at least 10 kW/h.

To get an idea of ​​the capabilities of solar wind photovoltaic systems (Ukraine) with a power from 1,000 to 15,000 W, we offer a comparative table based on 1 day of consumption.

6. Solar batteries “Kvant”

NPP "Kvant" was the first to offer the production of silicon solar cells with 2-sided sensitivity, as well as single crystals of gallium arsenide. The most popular model today is the Kvant KSM and its modification KSM-180P. The cost of such a battery does not exceed 18,000 rubles, the service life reaches 40 years.

However, we present the characteristics of all modules. They can be ordered in both mono- and polycrystalline variations. The specific energy characteristics are higher for monocrystalline panels and reach 200 W/sq.m. Compared to foreign analogues, Kvant is optimal due to its low price and relatively small decrease in efficiency throughout its entire service life.

7. Sun Power - portable solar panels

The Sun Power company is located in Ukraine and is mostly famous for its transportable solar complexes. With their help you can get electricity even while traveling. These complexes are distinguished by their mobility, small size and portability. They have a USB output and have a power of up to 500 W.

Other features of Sun Power portable panels:

• service life – up to 30 years;
• has international CE RoHC certification;
• the new generation of panels can also be integrated into the facade or roof without losing aesthetics.

It is convenient to use such solutions in autonomous lighting of billboards, roads and areas, power supply for campsites and trailers, yachts and boats.

8. “Kvazar” – another Ukrainian manufacturer

The Kvazar company produces a wide range of photovoltaic equipment, including solar panels and chargers. Kvazar solar panels are made from in-house grown silicon crystals and have a reinforced aluminum base. The quality guarantee issued by the manufacturer is a little alarming - only 10 years. However, electroluminescent and other laboratory tests confirm a longer service life - up to 25 years.

Our choice: panels - KV175-200/24 ​​M (monocrystalline), KV220-255M (also mono), KV210-240P (poly version), the numbers in the marking indicate the power of the device.

The price of batteries is from 13,000 rubles. (approximately) for 150 W. In addition to solar panels, Kvazar produces photoelectric converters with cells from 4 × 4 to 6 × 6 inches with an efficiency of up to 18.7%.

9. Vitasvet LLC

The Moscow enterprise Vitasvet LLC produces one basic model SSI-LS200 P3 in four power variations: from 225 to 240 W. Each module consists of 60 multicrystal silicon wafers and is mounted on an aluminum profile.

Here are their main parameters obtained during tests under normal conditions of 800 W/sq.m:

Cost – 12,800 rubles. per panel with a power of 240 W.

10. Thermotron plant (Bryansk)

The Termotron enterprise produces autonomous solar-powered street lighting systems and mini-autonomous solar stations. The former are supplied on the basis of serial modules with a high pillar support.

Features of autonomous street lighting systems from Termotron:

• operating temperature range – -40…+50 °C;
• beam opening angle – 135 to 90 degrees;
• guaranteed service life - 12 years in urban conditions;
• support height – from 6 to 11 m;
• power – from 30 to 160 W.

The autonomous station “Ecoterm”, produced by the plant, will be of interest to owners of country houses and plots. It is also used on farms, telephone exchanges, to equip rural schools, hospitals, and shops. The station operates from a 14.5 kW diesel generator. The price of generated energy with a quantity of 18 photoprocessing elements is 5.12 rubles/kW, the payback period is up to 5 years (check the price of the station with the manufacturer).

Conclusion

We conducted a review of several leading enterprises of the so-called photoenergy industry in Russia and Ukraine, which, we hope, will give an initial idea of ​​the feasibility of using solar panels and will allow you to make the right decision. These are not all brands, but these are the most popular and available for sale.

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The world is confidently moving towards a revolution in energy-saving technologies. One of the latest achievements in this area belongs to the International Research Group, which was formed by the University of Texas at Dallas and the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISiS). Scientists have developed a method for creating a solar cell based on perovskite. Unlike traditional analogues, which are based on silicon, the efficiency of the new product is much higher. At the same time, the cost of the solar battery of the future is reduced. Researchers are confident that plastic, lightweight, affordable perovskite devices will eventually find wide application, will be in demand and will completely replace outdated silicon analogues.

Analysis of silicon solar cells began in the twentieth century.

The existing technology has a number of disadvantages. This is the toxicity and energy intensity of silicon production. Therefore, the process turns out to be expensive. Silicon is also unreliable, has insufficient ductility and is very heavy in panels. Therefore, the scope of application of this chemical element is too narrow. Scientists predict that metal-organic perovskite will be able to solve all these problems.

New research has allowed fruitful work on a prototype tandem device that consists of carbon nanotubes and photovoltaic components. This development involves a combination of perovskite parts and traditional silicon. The installation effectively converts available ultraviolet rays into electricity and increases battery efficiency by 15%.

— The main advantage of hybrid perovskite is the ease of its production from standard sources: industrial organic chemical compounds and metal salts. While highly efficient semiconductor analogues in the form of solar cells, based on gallium arsenide and silicon, are obtained from uncommon and expensive elements, noted the project leader, leading expert at MISiS University and Professor Anvar Zakhidov.

Another important factor is that perovskite-based photoelectronics printing is not limited to printing on glass. This significantly reduces the cost of new batteries compared to more complex methods of creating components from thin film. These perovskite components have active tiers. They can be applied without problems even to the most flexible and thin substrates. And modern roll technology makes it possible to place solar panels on surfaces of various curvatures. Taking into account all these advantages, the scope of application of innovative batteries is expanding and goes far beyond the use of traditional silicon analogues. The development can supply portable electronic and household appliances with natural energy, be implemented in a Smart Home project, etc. Perovskite-based batteries guarantee an uninterrupted supply of electrical energy to homes. The innovation is also suitable for the automotive industry.

The sun can burn for millions of years, producing enormous amounts of heat and light energy. Not to take advantage of this gift from heaven would be frankly stupid, and to exchange solar panels for nuclear power plants is doubly stupid. Realizing this, scientists on planet Earth began developing solar panels: a coating and a system that could capture the thermal and almost endless energy of the Sun and accumulate it in batteries. Solar batteries exist and work successfully in various mechanisms, but crude electricity, which has appeared since the time of Tesla, is still used first. However, the new generation of environmentally friendly houses are already equipped with a coating of solar panels, so as not to waste extra electricity, and perhaps even in the absence of it.

What do you associate the word “robot” with? Most likely, when reading this word, many people imagine a Hollywood terminator, but reality is very different from fantasy. In recent years, engineers have been especially interested in creating robotic insects that, due to their small size and maneuverability, are able to fly unnoticed and conduct reconnaissance of territories. They have a big disadvantage - due to the need to maintain compactness and lightness, developers cannot equip them with a heavy battery, so they have to be connected by wires to an external power source. It seems this problem has finally been resolved.

A giant energy storage system installed in Australia has already helped residents of regions experiencing power outages survive a couple of difficult situations and saved the local government millions of dollars literally in the first days of its launch. Now the company

At the Solar Power International (SPI) 2017 conference in Las Vegas, the main topic of which is technology for its production, a large number of the latest developments in this area were presented. A journalist attended the event Electrek John Fitzgerald Weaver and shared his impressions of what he saw:

“Naturally, the most attention has been attracted to highly efficient and double sided batteries, but there were also other solutions that were praised for their innovative approach and are worth mentioning. Among them are half panels, solar tiles, and protective coatings, but first things first.

And first in line is Hantiles roofing tiles from Hanergy. In appearance, Hantiles are tiles, but not simple ones, but with built-in photocells. The product's manufacturing process involves placing thin, flexible solar panels in clear glass capsules shaped like roof tiles. According to the company, the efficiency ratio at the first stage of production is 16.5%, and by the end of the year they intend to increase it to 17.5%. And if, after all the tests, Hantiles are approved for use as a building material, they will certainly be used by many people.

Next we will talk about busbars. In the case of solar panels, they are vertical metal strings located on the front of the panel. As with other types of buses, this one is also used to transmit electricity. Surprisingly, in the field of solar energy they are actively used to increase efficiency, constantly increasing the number of busbars per element. This is because the round cross-section of a thin wire transmits more light than a wide and flat strip. For example, a model with four tires is 0.76% more productive than with three, and five tires are 1.13% more efficient than four, and so on. Among the presented options, LG Neon stood out the most, with twelve of them.

The next interesting solution was half photocells. Yes, this is what is considered innovation today. A little higher, we already learned that battery efficiency can be increased due to busbars by more than 1%, so half-size panels with four busbars are 3.59% more efficient than full-size panels with three busbars. The photo below shows such solar cells produced by Hanwha-Q Cells.

Well, the last, but not least, innovation was solar panels with a protective coating. Over time, everything outdoors becomes covered with dirt that must be cleaned off, and in dusty regions, the performance of solar panels due to dirty deposits can decrease by 10% or more. Therefore, DSM has proposed an interesting solution in the form of photocells with a protective coating. The design promises to increase the overall efficiency of the panels by 3% thanks to the presence of two layers, one of which protects against contamination, and the second is anti-reflective.”