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International audienceIndium gallium nitride films with nanocolumnar microstructure were deposited with varying indium content and substrate temperatures using plasma-enhanced evaporation on amorphous SiO2 substrates. FESEM and XRD results are presented, showing that more crystalline nanocolumnar microstructures can be engineered at lower indium compositions. Nanocolumn diameter and packing factor (void fraction) was found to be highly dependent on substrate temperature, with thinner and more closely packed nanocolumns observed at lower substrate temperatures

This paper presents the preliminary results of optical characterization using spectroscopic ellipsometry of wurtzite indium gallium nitride (InxGa1-xN) thin films with medium indium content (0.38

The Ontario feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has provided Ontario's Aboriginal communities with an opportunity to i) weaken the cycle of poverty; ii) directly counteract climate change by producing renewable energy; and iii) become more self-sufficient. This paper critically analyzes the technical, cultural, and economic viability of leveraging the FIT for PV to provide green electricity and revenue to assist First Nations communities in sustainable development. A generalized free GIS energy-based protocol was developed to determine the PV potential for Aboriginal communities. This model was applied to a case study of the Constance Lake First Nations community and an economic analysis showed financially viable rates of return over 20 years. By generalizing these findings to Ontario, the potential PV deployment on First Nation rooftops alone is over 200 MW, which clearly provides an opportunity for developing pride associated with owning a community-led, environmentally beneficial, local energy project.

This paper presents characterization results for the electrical and thermal properties of a unique insulating semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) glazing unit using calorimetry hot box methods finding a U-value of 1.09 W/m2·°C and a SHGC of 0.11. These properties are then applied to an energy model of a case study commercial building in a continental climate region to examine the effects of utilizing STPV in the building envelope on the electricity and natural gas consumption levels and peak demands. The results indicate that such a building envelope can significantly reduce heating and cooling loads compared to standard glazing which would help architects maintain the desirable properties of highly glazed façades while avoiding the drop in building energy performance that could make adhering to increasingly stringent building codes and performance standards difficult. The paper also presents simulation results for the photovoltaic energy generation of the vertical STPV façades at two building orientations.