A Review Paper on Advancements in Solar PV Technology, Environmental Impact of PV Cell Manufacturing

Abstract

Technological advancement, reduction in the cost of materials, and Government support for sustainable development help improvement in solar PV technology in recent years. Photovoltaic technology is majorly employed to generated electricity worldwide in the renewable energy category. To establish a good market base for Solar PV the efficiency of solar cells plays a significant role. Presently, extensive research work is going for efficiency improvement of solar cells for commercial use. The efficiency of monocrystalline silicon solar cells has shown very good improvement year by year. It starts with only 15% in the 1950s and then increases to 17% in the 1970s and continuously increases up to 28% nowadays. The growth in solar photovoltaic technologies including worldwide status, materials for solar cells, efficiency, factor affecting the performance of PV modules, an overview of a cost analysis of PV, and its environmental impact are reviewed in this paper.

Advancements in Photovoltaic Cell Materials: Silicon, Organic, and Perovskite Solar Cells

“…Their approach involved the implementation of advanced cell design optimizations, focusing on a prototype with a thickness of 20 µm. The results of their optimizations are notable: the short-circuit current density increased from 34.3 mA/cm 2 to 38.2 mA/cm 2 , the open-circuit voltage improved from 632 mV to 684 mV, and the fill factor exhibited an enhancement from 76.2% to 80.8%. These improvements collectively resulted in a significant absolute efficiency increase of 4.6%, elevating the overall efficiency from 16.5% to 21.1%.…”

“…The initial phase of solar cell development was characterized by the use of crystalline silicon, a material that has maintained its prominence due to its proven efficiency and durability [ 1 ]. The progression from the initial 15% efficiency in the 1950s to the current levels nearing 28% epitomizes the significant strides that have been made in enhancing solar cell performance [ 2 ]. This evolution is a clear indicator of how material advancements have been instrumental in propelling the solar industry forward.…”

Experimental Performance Evaluation on PV-module

“…Most solar PV are about 14% efficient, which means that they convert 14% of power to power. In practical use, usually, sunlight requires conversion to a specific voltage known as alternating current (AC) through the use of inverter technology [6]. Solar cells will have connected in one module.…”

Solar Cell Trends and the Future: A Review

“…Some of the characteristics of silicon is, they are more efficient and reliable. Due to the high cost of silicon, scientists are searching an alternative material which is having minimal cost to produce solar cell [7][8][9]. This review, reveals the history, latest advancement, and various generations of solar cell.…”