The Sandia Solar Programs e-newsletter features highlights, key activities, events, and publications.
Focused on developing cost-effective, reliable photovoltaic energy systems and accelerating the integration of PV technology in the United States and globally.
Using mirrors to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area where the concentrated light is converted to heat, which drives a generator.
Use microdesign and microfabrication techniques to produce miniaturized solar cells that are released into a solution similar to printing ink.
Photovoltaics
Sandia’s PV research staff work collaboratively with DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Program, the U.S. photovoltaic industry, other government agencies and national laboratories, and international organizations to increase the worldwide use of PV power systems by reducing cost, improving reliability, increasing performance, removing barriers, and growing markets.
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
In virtually all applications CSP is large power, on the order of 100 MW or larger, that is used by utilities to generate electricity and distribute to consumers. In a CSP plant, solar energy is converted to heat and the heat is used in a conventional power cycle or other heat engine to produce mechanical power and drive a generator.
CSP Videos
SunShot Solar CSP (Source: Department of Energy)
New Solar Power Technology: Could Get Power on Cloudy Days (Source: KOAT)
MEPV concepts use microdesign and microfabrication techniques to produce miniaturized solar cells that are released into a solution similar to printing ink. This solution is then placed or ‘printed’ onto a low-cost substrate with embedded contacts and microlenses for focusing sunlight onto the cells. Sandia’s approach uses cells that are tiny in both thickness and lateral dimensions – as small as 14 microns thick and 250 microns wide. The thinness of the cells reduces material costs while enhancing cell performance by improving carrier collection and potentially achieving higher open circuit voltages.
- Analysis to Inform CA Grid Integration Rules for PV: Final Report on Inverter Settings for Transmission and Distribution System Performance (0 downloads)
- Performance Comparison of Stion CIGS Modules to Baseline Monocrystalline Modules at the New Mexico, Florida, and Vermont Regional Test Centers: January 2015-December 2016 (36 downloads)
- Ota City: Characterizing Output Variability from 553 Homes with Residential PV Systems on a Distribution Feeder (79 downloads)
- THIN AND SMALL FORM FACTOR CELLS: SIMULATED BEHAVIOR (79 downloads)
- PV Performance Modeling Workshop Summary Report (79 downloads)
- Solar Energy Programs
- Sandia’s Livermore Site to Help Validate Cool Earth Solar’s CPV Technology
- Microsystems Enabled Photovoltaics (MEPV) “Solar Glitter”
- PV Value ®
- Arc Fault Detection and Mitigation
- Fuel Cell Membranes Open New Doors for Power
- Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Laboratory (PSEL
- Distributed Energy Technologies Laboratory (DETL)
- Regional Test Centers for PV Technologies
- National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF)
- Molten-Salt Test Loop (MSTL)
- Solar Glare Hazard Analysis (SGHAT)
- Roof Structure Analysis
PV Tracking Technology call for papers
ASME Journal of Solar Energy Engineering Special Issue: Photovoltaic Tracking Technology Photovoltaic (PV) energy systems are becoming a larger share of electricity production, with over 230 GW installed worldwide. Much of this growth is being driven [...]
New consortium to reduce cost of solar modules
In order to accelerate solar module materials discovery and development, the DOE SunShot program awarded $30 million, over five years, to a national laboratory-led Energy Materials Network (EMN) Consortium focused on durable module materials, DuraMat. Module [...]
Join the team: Concentrating Solar Technologies Manager
We are looking for a dynamic individual with a passion for solar energy R&D to lead our Department and Programs. The National Solar Thermal Test Facility in Albuquerque, NM is the only facility of its [...]
Register for the PV Performance Modeling and Monitoring Workshop, October 24-25, 2016
Expert Workshop in Freiburg: Modeling and Monitoring of PV Systems The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is acting as host for this year’s “PV Performance Modeling and Monitoring Workshop”. Photovoltaics experts from around [...]