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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

bifiPV2020 Bifacial Workshop: A Technology Overview

The virtual bifiPV Workshop was held in July 2020 to provide the solar industry with a forum for sharing and discussing research into bifacial photovoltaic (PV) technology. This report outlines major insights from the workshop to give the reader an overview of the latest developments in bifacial PV technology worldwide, from the lab to the field. Citations are drawn from this workshop unless otherwise noted, with all proceedings available online at bifipvworkshop. com. Presentations for the bifiPV2020 Workshop focused on the following areas: bifacial power plant modeling and simulation, albedo improvements, the development of encapsulants, the durability and reliability of current bifacial technologies, performance comparisons between glass-glass and glass-transparent backsheet configurations, the future of passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) solar cells, and the growing adoption of n-type solar cells. With 650 GW total PV installed worldwide and 1 TW to come very soon, PERC is now the standard PV cell type produced en masse. However, it is already reaching 23% efficiency, the upper limit for this type of technology. PV modules breaking the 0.5-kW barrier are starting to appear, and the costs of standard PERC technology are already below 0.2 USD/Wp. In 2019, five GW of bifacial PV were installed worldwide. In 2020, the majority of bifacial installations are expected to be located in the United States, China, and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) states. N-type bifacial technologies are becoming increasingly viable and have huge potential to dominate the market in the coming years. With bifacial technology mounted on horizontal single-axis trackers (HSAT), bids below 10 USD/MWh will soon be observed in the MENA region, and later in Chile and the United States. Factory audits and reliability testing can reduce field failures by helping buyers to select producers that follow rigorous quality assurance and quality control processes.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Industry Facing PV Degradation Prediction Tool and Database to Enable a 50-Year Life Module

The Photovoltaic (PV) industry constantly aims for lower costs, higher-efficiency cells, and improved module designs. These trends lead to using new materials, designs, and manufacturing processes, resulting in a continually changing technological landscape. These changes can potentially introduce new, unknown degradation mechanisms and failure modes that are difficult to diagnose, analyze, test, and model. This introduces uncertainty into the expected lifetime of PV modules of 25 years. Furthermore, research efforts aim for up to 50 years of service life while keeping performance degradation at a minimum for decades of outdoor weathering - putting additional pressure on improving the accuracy of long-term durability and reliability assessments. Here there is a need to organize the existing degradation data into an accessible format and to provide industry relevant tools for extrapolation from laboratory to field conditions. Because the core of this type of analysis involves calculations that are complicated but ubiquitous for many degradation processes, an enhanced predictive modeling framework will facilitate the analysis to help researchers keep up with the rapid pace of technological changes. In this work, we present an online tool that can be used to search for and analyze degradation information and extrapolate PV module performance and durability to field exposure. A graphical user interface will aid in the understanding of the results. The prediction tool will be built modular and published as open source, enabling users to expand on the existing framework. We use an integration pipeline approach that allows us to leverage weather data from the National Solar Radiation Database to perform geospatial degradation analysis in the US and worldwide. Our repository will contain various degradation models and material parameters suitable for the reliability and durability assessment of materials and components deployed outdoors. We hope to become a repository that can be used for weathering and degradation analysis for various applications beyond the PV industry.

degradation↗
DOE OSTI2025

Analysis of a Disturbance Event with Inverter-Based Resources Using EMT Simulations

Increasing penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) necessitates newer methods of planning and analysis of disturbances. The existing phasor-domain transient stability (TS) analysis may not capture the dynamics of IBRs during fault events. Here, in this paper, electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulations using high-fidelity detailed model of power grid and one of the affected photovoltaic (PV) plants during the Angeles Forest disturbance in 2018 are performed. In these simulations, the processes to develop EMT models of power grid from traditional phasor-domain TS data and PV plant from collected data are described. Thereafter, using these simulations, the response of the PV plant during the fault event in 2018 is replicated and a sensitivity analysis is performed. The sensitivity analysis consists of making changes to the components within the PV plant and in the power grid to evaluate the impact they have on the response observed by the PV plant during the fault event. This analysis provides an understanding of the components that impact the operation of a PV plant during fault events and provide guidance to system planners on the studies that need to be performed to maintain a reliable power grid as new IBR plants are integrated.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Photovoltaic Cable Jackets: A Comparison of Representative Products Using Combined-Accelerated Stress Testing [Slides]

Photovoltaic (PV) cables facilitate the distribution of electricity collected from modules to the energy grid. Durable cabling enables continuous operation of PV installations, whereas cables with a lifetime less than the modules must be replaced - reducing electricity generation and adding to the operating expense. This study primarily focusses on the aging of the key cable types using the combined-accelerated stress testing (C-AST) protocol. Representative cables for utility, building, and control/auxiliary applications were examined. Cable jacket materials examined include: polyolefin, polyethylene, polyamide, poly(vinyl chloride), chlorinated polyethylene, thermoplastic elastomer, and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. Specimen characterizations applied include: optical microscopy, mechanical profilometry, instrumented indentation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A variety of performance and durability characteristics were observed, depending on the base material, polymer formulation, and jacket color. The results from C-AST are analyzed and discussed relative to a recent industry survey on electronic balance of system components in addition to a recent study where similar cables were aged using steady state ultraviolet weathering (International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Specification 62788-7-2). Recommendations are made for the screening, industry qualification, and service life prediction of PV cable jackets.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Powering Circularity Through Data Reporting and Collection

Sustainability and Circular Economy have many metrics for evaluation. Calculating mass intensity, energy return on investment, financial payback, and recycling rate for proposed technology changes and lifecycle management can support decision making. Robust data with modeling tools can perform these calculations, informing good decision making. Analyses show that reliability is more critical than recyclability. Improved data gathering and tool accessibility will support our industry to make more circular choices for PV lifecycle management.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Interconnect: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-13-00507 (Project 4)

This CRADA modification involves analyses on a variety of CdTe-PV related materials, test structures, solar cells, and modules produced at FSLR and/or NLR and adds analysis related to module degradation and reliability. Materials will be provided by FSLR, NLR, and/or by interleaving FSLR and NLR layers and processes. Module reliability activities will include technical risk assessment, materials characterization, module and test structure characterization, modeling, accelerated test development, and outdoor testing.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Accurate Efficiency Measurements for Emerging PV: A Comparison of NREL's Steady-State Performance Calibration Protocol Between Conventional and Emerging PV Technologies

Emerging PV technologies (e.g. Perovskite, and Quantum Dot) are commonly known to possess challenges for accurate performance measurement under the existing IEC 60904 series of standards, which were developed for conventional Si solar cells. Potential performance artifacts depending on scan rates and directions and light bias exposure history are often seen in those emerging solar cells. To avoid these artifacts and provide an unbiased and reliable efficiency measurement, NREL's Cell and Module Performance (CMP) Group has developed a steady-state performance calibration protocol - the asymptotic P MAX method. In this paper, we applied this procedure to four PV cell technologies, Si, CIGS, perovskite, and Quantum Dot (QD), and compared their performance variations between the transient and the steady-state conditions. By comparison, we found that the performance parameters ( i.e. V OC , I SC , FF, ..eta..) measured between fast I-V scans (and the asymptotic method (steady-state) change significantly for perovskite and QD cells. These changes do not happen for Si and CIGS cells. Furthermore, the statistical performance analysis on nearly 100 emerging cells received globally (including OPV, Perovskite, and QD) shows that over 70 % of the fast I-V scans have a relative performance deviation larger than 1% compared to those determined using the asymptotic P MAX scan. Given the complex dynamic behavior observed in emerging PV devices, the CMP group at NREL thus only certifies their steady steady-state performance using the Asymptotic P MAX method. We highly recommend similar steady-state performance calibration protocol for all researchers in emerging PV because accuracy in reported efficiencies is critical to the long-term success of those promising new PV technologies.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Flexible Boundary Design for a Chattanooga Microgrid Powered by Landfill Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Storage

Landfill based microgrids powered by renewable energy aid reliability and resiliency while promoting environmental and energy justice. This paper aims to design a flexible boundary algorithm for a proposed Chattanooga landfill microgrid with the ability to shrink or expand its boundaries based on the available power from the solar PV and battery storage. This helps to improve resiliency unlike the conventional fixed boundary microgrids. The flexible boundary algorithm determines the combination and switching status of the intellirupter ® which changes the microgrid boundaries to achieve power balance by dropping or energizing specific load sections. Finally, the microgrid with flexible boundary was simulated in MATLAB/Simulink and performed satisfactorily when tested under various scenarios.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

An economic assessment of behind-the-meter photovoltaics paired with batteries on the Hawaiian Islands.

Due to natural variability and uncertainty, the ever-increasing penetration of solar generation in Hawaii presents challenges to power grid operators to maintain reliable system operation. Demand response (DR) has the potential to be a cost-effective tool for Hawaii to reach its aggressive renewable energy goals while maintaining the reliability of power grids. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved the Hawaiian Electric Company's revised portfolio of DR programs. The companies have released a grid services purchase agreement and subscribed an initial tranche of load into their DR programs. This paper presents innovative analytical methods and comprehensive economic assessment for distributed photovoltaics (PV) paired with battery energy storage systems (BESSs) for two new DR programs, including fast frequency response and capacity grid service. Optimal dispatch and sizing methods are proposed for the paired system considering different tariff schedules and PV compensation programs across five islands. It was found that while the best resource configuration and potential economic benefits vary with tariff structure, a BESS paired with PV can be optimally dispatched to generate multiple value streams simultaneously. Compensation from DR programs is an important value stream to help increase the cost-effectiveness of the integrated system.

Battery energy storage system↗
DOE OSTI2023

Island Power Systems With High Levels of Inverter-Based Resources: Stability and Reliability Challenges

As many island power systems seek to integrate high levels of renewable energy, they face new challenges on top of the existing difficulties of operating an isolated grid. With their drastically declining cost, variable renewables, such as wind and photovoltaics (PVs), are increasingly being integrated into island grids to reduce the use of imported fuels. These deployments of renewable energy are dominated by PV and wind generators, which bring unique challenges of their own.

IBRs↗
DOE OSTI2024

PVDeg: Development of a Streamlined Tool for PV Degradation Modeling

The photovoltaic (PV) industry constantly aims for lower costs, higher-efficiency cells, and improved module designs. These trends lead to using new materials, designs, and manufacturing processes, resulting in a continually changing technological landscape. These changes can potentially introduce new, unknown degradation mechanisms and failure modes that are difficult to diagnose, analyze, test, and model. This introduces uncertainty into the expected lifetime of PV modules of 25 to 50 years. research efforts aim to achieve this while keeping performance degradation at a minimum for decades. This puts considerable pressure on improving the accuracy of long-term durability and reliability assessments. There is a need to organize the existing degradation data into an accessible format and to provide industry relevant tools for extrapolation from laboratory to field conditions. Because the core of this type of analysis involves calculations that are complicated but ubiquitous for many degradation processes, an enhanced predictive modeling framework will facilitate the analysis to help researchers keep up with the rapid pace of technological changes. In this work, we present an online tool that can be used to search for and analyze degradation information and extrapolate PV module performance and durability to field exposure. The tool will simplify many of the routine computational operations that are common to many degradation studies. The prediction tool will be built modular and published as open source, enabling users to expand on the existing framework. This repository will contain various degradation models and material parameters suitable for the reliability and durability assessment of materials and components deployed outdoors.

degradation↗
DOE OSTI2023

Durable Module Materials (DuraMAT) Consortium (Final Technical Report)

The DuraMAT Consortium brings together DOE national lab and university research capabilities with the photovoltaic (PV) and supply-chain industries to accelerate a sustainable, just, and equitable transition to zero carbon electricity generation by 2035 through our five core objectives: development of a central data resource for PV modules, multi-scale and multi-physics modeling, disruptive acceleration science, forensic tools for fielded modules, and materials solutions for more durable, reliable, and resilient modules.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

V2XConnect: Harmonizing the Landscape of Bidirectional Charging Codes, Standards, and Communication Protocols

The utility grid is constantly evolving with new generation sources and diverse loads from backup generators, backup batteries, rooftop photovoltaics (PV), and flexible charging loads. Each of these technologies presents consumers with an opportunity to work with their local utility to promote grid stability, reliability, and affordability. Through a wide range of programs, utilities are incentivizing the use of these resources to benefit the grid. However, especially for devices with inverters that supply power back to the grid, it is important that these assets comply with local grid codes to ensure human safety, power quality, and grid reliability. One of the most promising of these new technologies is the bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) coupled with bidirectional electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). This report introduces the technologies that enable bidirectional charging and how these systems operate. It then outlines the necessary interconnection codes and industry standards that govern the operations of grid-tied inverters, including those in bidirectional charging. A key challenge is then outlined from the complex landscape of communication protocols and proprietary systems designed to coordinate these grid assets. Finally, a single gateway solution is proposed to harmonize communications between all assets across an entire site for a cohesive response to grid codes and utility programs that is flexible enough to support a range of market options.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mitigating Voltage Instability in the Saudi Grid for a Decarbonized, Fully Solar Power System

Lately, solar photovoltaic (PV) has received significant interest due to its economic and environmental benefits. As the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) increases into existing power grids, challenges such as the decrease in short circuit ratio (SCR) are introduced. Here, this paper investigates a case study of the Saudi power grid, examining the voltage stability as the grid transitions from traditional power generation to 100% penetration of solar PV gradually. Moreover, the paper explores the relationship between the increase in solar penetration and the potential effects on the short circuit MVA (SCMVA), which could significantly impact the overall SCR of the system. To meet the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) recommendation of maintaining SCR at a particular level, synchronous condensers (SC)s were integrated into the grid. The effectiveness of utilizing SCs to maintain the system voltage at optimal levels in a fully solar grid is also considered. In addition, this paper covers the weak grid analysis via utilizing the Newton-Raphson load flow method, along with PV and QV curve analyses. The purpose behind that is to determine weak bus locations in need of voltage improvements, and to meet the amount of reactive power to be injected. Finally, the amount of power being delivered by SCs will be added progressively in three scenarios to show the enhancements on SCR more precisely.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

AI-Driven Smart Community Control for Accelerating PV Adoption and Enhancing Grid Resilience

Rapid deployment of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems helps decarbonize our electricity supplies, but under certain circumstances, high-penetration PV may pose challenges to the electrical distribution grid. In a project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office and Building Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its partners studied how flexible building loads and battery storage, when coordinated at home-level and community-level scales, can be used to address those challenges and enhance grid resilience. In this webinar, we will discuss the methodology, simulation and field pilot results, insights from partners, and lessons learned from the project.

artificial intelligence↗
DOE OSTI2021

International collaboration framework for the calculation of performance loss rates: Data quality, benchmarks, and trends (towards a uniform methodology)

Abstract The IEA PVPS Task 13 group, experts who focus on photovoltaic performance, operation, and reliability from several leading R&D centers, universities, and industrial companies, is developing a framework for the calculation of performance loss rates of a large number of commercial and research photovoltaic (PV) power plants and their related weather data coming across various climatic zones. The general steps to calculate the performance loss rate are (i) input data cleaning and grading; (ii) data filtering; (iii) performance metric selection, corrections, and aggregation; and finally, (iv) application of a statistical modeling method to determine the performance loss rate value. In this study, several high‐quality power and irradiance datasets have been shared, and the participants of the study were asked to calculate the performance loss rate of each individual system using their preferred methodologies. The data are used for benchmarking activities and to define capabilities and uncertainties of all the various methods. The combination of data filtering, metrics (performance ratio or power based), and statistical modeling methods are benchmarked in terms of (i) their deviation from the average value and (ii) their uncertainty, standard error, and confidence intervals. It was observed that careful data filtering is an essential foundation for reliable performance loss rate calculations. Furthermore, the selection of the calculation steps filter/metric/statistical method is highly dependent on one another, and the steps should not be assessed individually.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Discrete and Integrated Solutions for Hybrid PV Plants Without Momentary Cessation in Low SCR and High Penetration PE Grids

With the increased penetration of power electronic (PE) based loads and sources, advanced solutions may be required for the enhancement of grid stability in regions with low short circuit ratio (SCR) and high penetration PE grids. The requirement of advanced solutions arises from the gradual paradigm shift of the electric grid from the traditional electric machine dominant system to a high penetration of PE-based system. One of the major challenges with such systems in recent times is the momentary cessation during alternating current (ac) grid transmission faults. During momentary cessation, PE-based resources cease to operate, thus creating probable reliability challenges for the grid. In this paper, potential feasible options to provide continuity of operation during such scenarios are presented. The options are considered through identifying upgrades in existing and upcoming discrete development of photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems (ESS) termed as discrete hybrid PV plants. Additionally, an advanced concept of integrated development of PV and ESS connecting to ac transmission grid links called multi-port autonomous reconfigurable solar power plant (MARS) is evaluated. The developed new solutions are evaluated for different grid use cases and scenarios in PSCAD.

Marthi, Phani Ratna Vanamali↗