Optimisation of Bifacial and Tandem Photovoltaic Modules through Outdoor Testing

Using solar power to tackle poverty alleviation in low-middle income countries is a growing field of research. Urgent efforts are required to reduce the cost of renewable energy in order to tackle the worst effects of climate change. The fastest growing renewable energy technology is photovoltaics (PV), which will account for 30% of the global power generation capacity in the coming decades. In order to integrate solar energy further into our renewable energy mix, understanding the reliability of modules is key. This PhD project is focussed on the modelling of emerging photovoltaic module technologies, including tandems and bifacial modules. This will include engineering outdoor testing stands for experimental validation as well as using our state-of-the-art laboratories and characterisation facilities. The modelling of these modules will take into account environmental factors such as sunlight (angular and spectral distribution) and weather conditions (temperature, humidity, wind etc.), and identify optimal designs of module components and their peripherals to ensure high efficiency.