A comparative analysis of the performance behavior of nano and conventional solar PV modules under tropical weather conditions
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Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
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.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr.Wilbert Chagula Library, class mark (THS EAF TJ809.T34N548)
Keywords
Solar energy, Tanzania
Citation
Nkubile,D (2020)A comparative analysis of the performance behavior of nano and conventional solar PV modules under tropical weather conditions,Masters dissertation,University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.