Review of roll-to-roll fabrication techniques for colloidal quantum dot solar cells

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are of great interest to photovoltaic (PV) technologies as they possess the benefits of solution-processability, size-tunability, and roll-to-roll manufacturability, as well as unique capabilities to harvest near-infrared (NIR) radiation. During the last decade, lab-scale CQD solar cells have achieved rapid improvement in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) from ~1% to 18%, which will potentially exceed 20% in the next few years and approach the performance of other PV technologies, such as perovskite solar cells and organic solar cells. In the meanwhile, CQD solar cells exhibit long lifetimes either under shelf storage or continuous operation, making them highly attractive to industry. However, in order to meet the industrial requirements, mass production techniques are necessary to scale up the fabrication of those lab devices into large-area PV modules, such as roll-to-toll coating. This paper reviews the recent developments of large-area CQD solar cells with a focus on various fabrication methods and their principles. It covers the progress of typical large-area coating techniques, including spray coating, blade coating, dip coating, and slot-die coating. It also discusses next steps and new strategies to accomplish the ultimate goal of the low-cost large-area fabrication of CQD solar cells and emphasizes how artificial intelligence or machine learning could facilitate the developments of CQD solar cell research.     

Lacking energy storage,and nuclear contribution,wind, and solar photovoltaic electricity is expensive and scarce

Prices of electricity have skyrocketed phased with the uptake of non-dispatchable wind and solar photovoltaic energy supply, and the closure of combustion fuel plants able to produce electricity on demand. At the same time, blackouts have become more likely, with governments requesting citizens not to use electricity when they need to prevent their occurrence. If we were expecting cheap and abundant renewable energy, it seems something is not right. There are, however, solutions. These are the adoption of other energy sources, not only non-dispatchable wind and solar, but also dispatchable hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass renewable energy, and baseload nuclear energy, plus the development of energy storage, by batteries, pumped hydro, thermal energy storage, and more than that, by hydrogen, to generate enough dispatchable energy to cover the requirements of a growing world.     

空间太阳能电站太阳能接收器二维展开过程的保结构分析

针对传统数值方法求解微分-代数方程过程中经常遇到的违约问题,本文以空间太阳能电站太阳能接收器的简化二维模型为例,采用辛算法模拟了简化模型的展开过程,研究了辛算法在求解过程中约束违约问题.首先,基于Hamilton变分原理,将描述简化二维模型展开过程的Euler-Lagrange方程导入Hamilton体系,建立其Hamilton正则方程;随后,采用s级PRK离散方法离散正则方程,得到其辛格式;最后,采用辛PRK格式模拟太阳能接收器的二维展开过程.模拟结果显示:本文构造的辛PRK格式能够很好地满足系统的位移约束.     

Systematically mapping innovations in electricity using startups: A comprehensive database analysis

Technology innovation is recognized as one of the main enablers of sustainable development and the transition towards a low-carbon future. Anticipating innovation trajectories could help decision-makers develop new capabilities to take advantage of incremental and disruptive innovations. This paper maps the current innovation that is taking place in the electricity sector using a bottom-up approach by analyzing the value proposition pursued by startups worldwide.We compiled a database of 320 startups whose focus is the electricity sector. We classified these startups according to their business propositions in the context of megatrends disrupting the electricity sector. From analyzing this dataset, we find the following. Photovoltaic generation (PV) is the primary technology for decarbonization. Innovation within PV focuses on developing more resistant materials, panels that are easier to install, or maintain. These innovations do not need an updated regulatory-market structure of the industry to be deployed. Digitalization is the key disruptive/breakthrough innovation. It has the potential to reshape businesses and the regulatory-market structure. Storage technologies can be very disruptive for the power sector, but the innovation we observe in storage technology is incremental. This includes batteries that last longer, that charge in shorter periods of time, or that use other less expensive raw materials, or more energy density –more kilowatt-hours per kilogram.     

基于图像处理的太阳光矢量倾角测量方法

为了提高在轨太阳光谱辐射的绝对定标精度,提出了太阳光矢量和太阳光谱仪主光轴夹角的测量方法。以图像处理技术为基础,构造了太阳光矢量和太阳光谱仪主光轴夹角的测量系统。入射的太阳光经在成像器件上成像,然后经过图像处理,获取了太阳光像点中心的位置,进而计算了太阳光矢量和与太阳光谱仪主光轴的倾角。实验表明测量方法是有效的,测量系统工作可靠稳定,测量精度约为0.05°。     

Solar or surplus heat-driven actuators using metal hydride alloys

A metal hydride (MH) actuator provides mechanical work by applying the hydrogen pressure transition that originates from the reversible reaction of the MH alloy as it absorbs and desorbs hydrogen gas. The MH actuators that have been reported employ a Peltier element or an electrical heating resistance wire as a heat source. This paper describes the design of an MH actuator that is driven by low-quality heat sources, such as solar heat or surplus heat. A certain composition of a LaNi₅-based alloy that produces desorbing and absorbing reactions through a low-temperature difference is specified. This alloy composition can provide a large amount of hydrogen desorption using solar heat or surplus heated water and a large amount of hydrogen absorption by natural air cooling in an adequate reaction time. To improve the moving speed and to control the performance, a reciprocating air compressor that applies this solar or surplus heat-driven MH actuator is proposed. These findings support the efficacy of an MH actuator operating without electric or fossil fuel energy consumption.     

Speed scaling with a solar cell

We consider the setting of a device that obtains its energy from a battery and some regenerative source such as a solar cell. We consider the speed scaling problem of scheduling a collection of tasks with release times, deadlines, and sizes, so as to minimize the energy recharge rate of the regenerative source. This is the first theoretical investigation of speed scaling for devices with a regenerative energy source. We show that the problem can be expressed as a polynomial sized convex program. We show that, using the KKT conditions, one can obtain an efficient algorithm to verify the optimality of a schedule. We show that the energy optimal YDS schedule is 2-approximate with respect to the recharge rate. We show that the online algorithm BKP is O(1)$O\left(1\right)$-competitive with respect to recharge rate.     

独立光伏系统的应用及控制策略探讨

本文分析了独立光伏系统在解决边防及海岛部队供电难题和生态营区建设等方面的应用,讨论了独立光伏系统存在的主要问题,分析了能量控制策略的现状和蓄电池分组控制策略,给出了分组原则,研究了控制电路的结构和原理。实践证明,分组充放电对于提高供电可靠性,延长蓄电池寿命有一定的现实意义。     

The CM-SAF operational scheme for the satellite based retrieval of solar surface irradiance — A LUT based eigenvector hybrid approach

The radiation budget at the earth surface is an essential climate variable for climate monitoring and analysis as well as for verification of climate model output and reanalysis data. Accurate solar surface irradiance data is a prerequisite for an accurate estimation of the radiation budget and for an efficient planning and operation of solar energy systems.This paper describes a new approach for the retrieval of the solar surface irradiance from satellite data. The method is based on radiative transfer modelling and enables the use of extended information about the atmospheric state. Accurate analysis of the interaction between the atmosphere, surface albedo, transmission and the top of atmosphere albedo has been the basis for the new method, characterised by a combination of parameterisations and “eigenvector” look-up tables. The method is characterised by a high computing performance combined with a high accuracy. The performed validation shows that the mean absolute deviation is of the same magnitude as the confidence level of the BSRN (Baseline Surface Radiation Measurement) ground based measurements and significant lower as the CM-SAF (Climate Monitoring Satellite Application Facility) target accuracy of 10 W/m². The mean absolute difference between monthly means of ground measurements and satellite based solar surface irradiance is 5 W/m² with a mean bias deviation of − 1 W/m² and a RMSD (Root Mean Square Deviation) of 5.4 W/m² for the investigated European sites. The results for the investigated African sites obtained by comparing instantaneous values are also encouraging. The mean absolute difference is with 2.8% even lower as for the European sites being 3.9%, but the mean bias deviation is with − 1.1% slightly higher as for the European sites, being 0.8%. Validation results over the ocean in the Mediterranean Sea using shipboard data complete the validation. The mean bias is − 3.6 W/m² and 2.3% respectively. The slightly higher mean bias deviation over ocean is at least partly resulting from inherent differences due to the movement of the ship (shadowing, allocation of satellite pixel). The validation results demonstrate that the high accuracy of the surface solar irradiance is given in different climate regions. The discussed method has also the potential to improve the treatment of radiation processes in climate and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, because of the high accuracy combined with a high computing speed.     

基于标准CMOS工艺太阳能电池的微电源管理系统

文章基于CMOS太阳能电池设计了一款微电源管理系统。此电源管理系统适用于传感器网络节点和半有源电子标签之类的需要周期性短时间供电的电路。电源管理系统中包含一个电荷泵,一个片外储能电容,控制电路和一个线性稳压器。控制电路采用一种全新的结构,静态功耗基本为零。采用UMC 0.18μm CMOS工艺,当输出电流为30uA,储能电容为1uF时,一个周期可达到大于20ms的供电时间,输出电压1.8V,电源管理系统的静态电流小于1.5uA。