Browsing by Author "Nkubile, Daudi"

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    A comparative analysis of the performance behavior of nano and conventional solar PV modules under tropical weather conditions
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2020) Nkubile, Daudi
    A comparative analysis of the performance behavior of nano and conventional solar PV modules under tropical weather conditions Daudi Nkubile Msc (renewable energy) University of Dar es salaam, COET,2020 In this study, evolution of developments of nano solar PV modules was reviewed, whereby factors such as market share, efficiency improvement and limiting challenges were assessed. Also performance of nano solar PV modules was compared with those of conventional silicon solar PV modules in order to assess the technical competitiveness of nano cells. Major types of nano solar PV modules currently in use and their corresponding market shares are copper indium gallium sellenide (CIGS), cadmium telluride (CdTe) and amorphous silicon with 2%, 3% and 0.5% respectively. Despite the small market share, nano solar PV modules have several advantages over the conventional solar PV modules, such as lightweight, lower production costs and flexibility of their modules. Currently, costs of electricity using nano and conventional solar PV modules stands at USD0.3/W and USD 1.2/W respectively. This makes nano solar PV modules to possess a big potential to be used as the source of solar PV energy. Experiments on performances of nano and conventional solar PV modules involved measuring I-V curves under tropical condition in Dar es Salaam at the offices of the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS).Two pieces of solar PV modules, one being nano solar PV module and another being conventional solar PV module with the same rated peak power of 5W, recorded maximum power of 3.6W and 3.7W respectively at STC irradiance of 1000W/m2.Likewise, at STC, recorded efficiencies of nano and conventional solar PV modules were 10.93% and 12.21%, which is slightly lower than rated STC values which are 14% and 16% respectively. This deviation in the recorded power output at STC irradiance was caused by associated high module temperature of about 59.1°C. Furthermore, from the experiment it was observed that at corresponding temperatures and irradiances below 45°C and 400W/m2, the performance of nano solar PV module was about 5% better than that of conventional solar PV module.