Author(s):
1. Eleni Karantagli, Dept of Materials Science, University of Patras, Patra 26504, Greece
2. Yiannis Tripanagnostopoulos, Physics Dept, University of Patras, Patra 26504, Greece
3. Mihail Sigalas, Dept of Materials Science, University of Patras, Patra 26504, Greece

Abstract:
The non optimum mounting of photovoltaic panels on building facades and inclined roofs regarding azimuth angle, causes electrical output reduction. It is observed that for solar rays with higher values of incidence angle, the reflectivity reduction could contribute to keep satisfactory electrical output. To improve optical/electrical performance of PV cells, the Rigorous Coupled-Wave Analysis (RCWA) methodology was used, by which the reflection, transmission and absorption for any angle of incidence of solar rays on a pc-Si solar cell can be calculated. The method divides the given structure into layers parallel to the surface and uses a Fourier decomposition of the possibly complex refractive index of each layer. It can treat grating either on SiN or Si and can also treat nanoparticles at the top surface of pc-Si solar cell. One of the advances of RCWA is that it can directly treat the layers of structures without additional computational burden. In this paper, gratings in the SiN and/or Si PV surface are examined, to minimize optical reflection at high incidence angles. The effect of slope and azimuth angles of the incident solar rays to the electricity output was studied, to determine the limits of effective PV module orientation regarding electrical output.

Key words:
solar, energy, application

Thematic field:
SYMPOSIUM A - Science of matter, condensed matter and physics of solid states

Date of abstract submission:
01.07.2016.

Conference:
Contemporary Materials 2016 - Savremeni Materijali

Applied paper from author