Modern Development Trends in Photovoltaics (Review)

Abstract

Abstract— Photovoltaics is developing around the world at the fastest rate in comparison with all other renewable energy sectors and demonstrates, owing to the improvement of relevant technologies and growing amounts of equipment manufacture, a significant decrease in both specific capital outlays per unit installed capacity of power installations and in the reduced cost of electricity generated by them with a simultaneous increase in the capacity utilization factor (CUF). The article briefly reviews the developments aimed at improving the characteristics of photovoltaic converters and development trends in the silicon photovoltaics technologies that have been seen in recent years. The article discusses the specific features, advantages, and shortcomings of the technologies for manufacturing silicon photovoltaic converters using passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) technology, heterojunction modules that use HJT technology (a heterojunction on the basis of monocrystalline and amorphous silicon with intrinsic thin insulating layer), that with the p–n-junction brought to the wafer’s rear side known as IBC technology (interdigitated back contacts), fragmented modules, and multijunction nonsilicon photovoltaic converters. It is pointed out that, in view of the fact that the achieved efficiency of silicon photovoltaic converters is approaching its theoretical limit, various methods for increasing the amount of solar radiation falling on the module surface, such as concentration of solar radiation, use of solar tracking systems, and use of bifacial modules, are becoming of special importance. The growing production of bifacial modules, silicon-based heterojunction modules, and, in the future, tandem structures with the use of perovskite-like materials generates the need to modify the methods used to predict the power output generated by photovoltaic modules with taking into account their spectral sensitivity. The state of photovoltaics development in Russia is briefly reviewed. Problems connected with the integration of photovoltaic stations into the grid are discussed, including matters concerned with using electric energy storage devices and flexible tariff regulation, and, as far as the private sector is concerned, promoting consumption of the energy inside the household in which it was produced. These problems will become increasingly more topical with a growth in the share of solar generation in the grid. It is pointed out that prices for photovoltaic modules can reach a competitive level in the world’s market primarily owing to increasing the amounts of their manufacture up to 1 GW per annum or more.

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