People's Democratic Republic of Algeria

Minister of Superior Education and Scientific Research

Domain: Sciences and Technology.
Sector /Specialty: Renewable Energies and Environment.
Level: 2nd Year Professional License.

Subject: Bibliography Project.

Photovoltaics !

Presented by students: Under the supervision of the teacher:

1/ Benlakhdar Taha El Amin; G01 * Boudia Assam
2/ Bey Mohamed El Amin; G01
3/ Boucetta Islam; G01
4/ Ferroum Mohamed Wassim; G02

College year: 2022/2023

1
Table des matières :

Introduction:...........................................................................................................................3
I. History:............................................................................................................................5
II. Solar cells:...................................................................................................................5
III. Performance and degradation:..................................................................................5
III.A. Influence of temperature:........................................................................................6
III.B. Degradation:.............................................................................................................6
IV. Manufacturing of PV systems:...................................................................................7
V. Economics:......................................................................................................................7
VI. Growth:.......................................................................................................................8
VII. Applications:.............................................................................................................10
VII.1. Photovoltaic systems:.............................................................................................10
VII.2. Photo sensors:.........................................................................................................10
VIII. Advantages:...........................................................................................................10
 Pollution and energy in production:........................................................................10
 Solar cell research investment:................................................................................11
 Housing subsidies:.....................................................................................................11
IX. Disadvantages:..........................................................................................................11
 Impact on electricity network:.................................................................................11
 Implications for electricity bill management and energy investment:..................11
Conclusion:............................................................................................................................13

2
 Introduction:
Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials
that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and
electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially used for electricity generation and as
photosensors.

A photovoltaic system employs solar modules, each comprising a number of solar cells,
which generate electrical power. PV installations may be ground-mounted, rooftop-mounted, wall-
mounted or floating. The mount may be fixed or use a solar tracker to follow the sun across the sky.

Photovoltaic technology helps to mitigate climate change because it emits much less carbon
dioxide than fossil fuels. Solar PV has specific advantages as an energy source: once installed, its
operation generates no pollution and no greenhouse gas emissions, it shows scalability in respect of
power needs and silicon has large availability in the Earth's crust, although other materials required
in PV system manufacture such as silver may constrain further growth in the technology. Other
major constraints identified are competition for land use. 1 The use of PV as a main source requires
energy storage systems or global distribution by high-voltage direct current power lines causing
additional costs, and also has a number of other specific disadvantages such as variable power
generation which have to be balanced. Production and installation does cause some pollution and
greenhouse gas emissions, though only a fraction of the emissions caused by fossil fuels.

Photovoltaic systems have long been used in specialized applications as stand-alone

installations and grid-connected PV systems have been in use since the 1990s. 2 Photovoltaic
modules were first mass-produced in 2000, when the German government funded a one hundred
thousand roof program.3 Decreasing costs has allowed PV to grow as an energy source. This has
been partially driven by massive Chinese government investment in developing solar production
capacity since 2000, and achieving economies of scale. Improvements in manufacturing technology
and efficiency have also led to decreasing costs. Net metering and financial incentives, such as
preferential feed-in tariffs for solar-generated electricity; have supported solar PV installations in

1
Lo Piano, Samuele; Mayumi, Kozo (2017). "Toward an integrated assessment of the performance of
photovoltaic systems for electricity generation". Applied Energy. 186 (2): 167–74.
2
Bazilian, M.; Onyeji, I.; Liebreich, M.; MacGill, I.; Chase, J.; Shah, J.; Gielen, D.; Arent, D.; Landfear, D.;
Zhengrong, S. (2013). "Re-considering the economics of photovoltaic power" (PDF). Renewable
Energy. 53: 329–338. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.692.1880. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2012.11.029. Archived from
the original (PDF) on 31 May 2014.
3
Palz, Wolfgang (2013). Solar Power for the World: What You Wanted to Know about Photovoltaics.
CRC Press. pp. 131.

3
many countries.4 Panel prices dropped by a factor of 4 between 2004 and 2011. Module prices
dropped by about 90% over the 2010s.

In 2019, worldwide installed PV capacity increased to more than 635 gigawatts (GW)
covering approximately two percent of global electricity demand. 5 After hydro and wind powers,
PV is the third renewable energy source in terms of global capacity.

Charging station in France that provides

energy for electric cars using solar energy

4
Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st century (REN21), Renewables 2010 Global Status
Report, Paris, 2010, pp. 1–80.
5
"PHOTOVOLTAICS REPORT" (PDF). Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. 16 September
2020. p. 4.

4
 I. History:
George Cove may have invented a photovoltaic panel in 1909, roughly 40 years before Bell
Labs did in 1950.6 In 1989, the German Research Ministry initiated the first ever program to finance
PV roofs (2200 roofs). A program led by Walter Sandtner in Bonn, Germany.7
In 1994, Japan followed in their footsteps and conducted a similar program with 539 residential
PV systems installed.8 Since, many countries have continued to produce and finance PV systems in
an exponential speed.

II. Solar cells:

Photovoltaics are best known as a method for generating electric power by using solar cells to
convert energy from the sun into a flow of electrons by the photovoltaic effect.
Solar cells produce direct current electricity from sunlight, which can be used to power
equipment or to recharge batteries. The first practical application of photovoltaics was to power
orbiting satellites and other spacecraft, but today the majority of photovoltaic modules are used for
grid-connected systems for power generation. In this case, an inverter is required to convert the DC
to AC. There is still a smaller market for standalone systems for remote dwellings, boats,
recreational vehicles, electric cars, roadside emergency telephones, remote sensing, and cathodic
protection of pipelines.
Photovoltaic power generation employs solar modules composed of a number of solar cells
containing a semiconductor material.9 Copper solar cables connect modules (module cable), arrays
(array cable), and sub-fields. Because of the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the
manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced considerably in recent years.10
Cells require protection from the environment and are usually packaged tightly in solar
modules.

III. Performance and degradation:

Module performance is generally rated under standard test conditions (STC): irradiance of 1,000
W/m2, solar spectrum of AM 1.5 and module temperature at 25 °C. 11 The actual voltage and current
output of the module changes as lighting, temperature and load conditions change, so there is never
one specific voltage at which the module operates. Performance varies depending on geographic
location, time of day, the day of the year, amount of solar irradiance, direction and tilt of modules,
cloud cover, shading, soiling, state of charge, and temperature. Performance of a module or panel

6
"How to Build a Low-tech Solar Panel ?". LOW-TECH MAGAZINE.
7
Palz, Wolfgang (21 October 2013). Solar Power for the World : What You Wanted to Know about
Photovoltaics.
8
Noguchi, Masa. "Number of Residential PV Installation in Japan: 1994-2003".
9
Jacobson, Mark Z. (2009). "Review of Solutions to Global Warming, Air Pollution, and Energy
Security". Energy & Environmental Science. 2 (2): 148–173.
10
Bullis, Kevin (23 June 2006). Large-Scale, Cheap Solar Electricity. Technologyreview.com.
11
Dunlop, James P. (2012). Photovoltaic systems. National Joint Apprenticeship and Training
Committee for the Electrical Industry (3rd ed.). Orland Park, IL: American Technical Publishers, Inc.

5
can be measured at different time intervals with a DC clamp meter or shunt and logged, graphed, or
charted with a chart recorder or data logger.
For optimum performance, a solar panel needs to be made of similar modules oriented in the
same direction perpendicular to direct sunlight. Bypass diodes are used to circumvent broken or
shaded panels and optimize output. These bypass diodes are usually placed along groups of solar
cells to create a continuous flow.12
Electrical characteristics include nominal power (PMAX, measured in W), open-circuit voltage
(VOC), short-circuit current (ISC, measured in amperes), maximum power voltage (VMPP),
maximum power current (IMPP), peak power (watt-peak, Wp), and module efficiency (%).
Open-circuit voltage or VOC is the maximum voltage the module can produce when not
connected to an electrical circuit or system.13 VOC can be measured with a voltmeter directly on an
illuminated module's terminals or on its disconnected cable.
The peak power rating, Wp, is the maximum output under standard test conditions (not the
maximum possible output).
III.A. Influence of temperature:
The performance of a photovoltaic (PV) module depends on the environmental conditions,
mainly on the global incident irradiance G in the plane of the module. However, the temperature T
of the p–n junction also influences the main electrical parameters: the short-circuit current ISC, the
open circuit voltage VOC and the maximum power Pmax. In general, it is known that VOC shows a
significant inverse correlation with T, while for ISC this correlation is direct, but weaker, so that
this increase does not compensate for the decrease in VOC. Consequently, Pmax decreases when T
increases. This correlation between the power output of a solar cell and the working temperature of
its junction depends on the semiconductor material, and is due to the influence of T on the
concentration, lifetime, and mobility of the intrinsic carriers, i.e., electrons and gaps inside the
photovoltaic cell.
III.B. Degradation:
The ability of solar modules to withstand damage by rain, hail, heavy snow load, and cycles of
heat and cold varies by manufacturer, although most solar panels on the U.S. market are UL listed,
meaning they have gone through testing to withstand hail.14
Potential-induced degradation (also called PID) is a potential-induced performance degradation
in crystalline photovoltaic modules, caused by so-called stray currents. This effect may cause power
loss of up to 30%.15
The largest challenge for photovoltaic technology is the purchase price per watt of electricity
produced. Advancements in photovoltaic technologies have brought about the process of "doping"
the silicon substrate to lower the activation energy thereby making the panel more efficient in
converting photons to retrievable electrons.
12
Bowden, Stuart; Honsberg, Christiana. "Bypass Diodes". Photovoltaic Education.
13
"Open-Circuit Voltage (Battery)". Electrical School. 13 June 2018.
14
"Are Solar Panels Affected by Weather? - Energy Informative". Energy Informative.
15
(www.inspire.cz), INSPIRE CZ s.r.o. "What is PID? — eicero". eicero.com.

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 Chemicals such as boron (p-type) are applied into the semiconductor crystal in order to create
donor and acceptor energy levels substantially closer to the valence and conductor bands. In doing
so, the addition of boron impurity allows the activation energy to decrease twenty-fold from 1.12
eV to 0.05 eV. Since the potential difference (EB) is so low, the boron is able to thermally ionize at
room temperatures. This allows free energy carriers in the conduction and valence bands thereby
allowing greater conversion of photons to electrons.

IV. Manufacturing of PV systems:

Overall, the manufacturing process of creating solar photovoltaics is simple in that it does not
require the culmination of many complex or moving parts. Because of the solid-state nature of PV
systems, they often have relatively long lifetimes, anywhere from 10 to 30 years. To increase the
electrical output of a PV system, the manufacturer must simply add more photovoltaic components.
Because of this, economies of scale are important for manufacturers as costs decrease with
increasing output.16
While there are many types of PV systems known to be effective, crystalline silicon PV
accounted for around 90% of the worldwide production of PV in 2013. Manufacturing silicon PV
systems has several steps. First, polysilicon is processed from mined quartz until it is very pure
(semi-conductor grade). This is melted down when small amounts of boron, a group III element, are
added to make a p-type semiconductor rich in electron holes. Typically using a seed crystal, an
ingot of this solution is grown from the liquid polycrystalline. The ingot may also be cast in a mold.
Wafers of this semiconductor material are cut from the bulk material with wire saws, and then go
through surface etching before being cleaned. Next, the wafers are placed into a phosphorus vapor
deposition furnace, which lays a very thin layer of phosphorus, a group V element, which creates an
n-type semiconducting surface. To reduce energy losses, an anti-reflective coating is added to the
surface, along with electrical contacts. After finishing the cell, cells are connected via electrical
circuit according to the specific application and prepared for shipping and installation. 17

V. Economics:
There have been major changes in the underlying costs, industry structure and market prices of
solar photovoltaics technology, over the years, and gaining a coherent picture of the shifts occurring
across the industry value chain globally is a challenge. This is due to: "the rapidity of cost and price
changes, the complexity of the PV supply chain, which involves a large number of manufacturing
processes, the balance of system (BOS) and installation costs associated with complete PV systems,
the choice of different distribution channels, and differences between regional markets within which
PV is being deployed". Further complexities result from the many different policy support
initiatives that have been put in place to facilitate photovoltaics commercialization in various
countries.18
16
Platzer, Michael (27 January 2015). "U.S. Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing: Industry Trends, Global
Competition, Federal Support". Congressional Research Service.
17
"How PV Cells Are Made". www.fsec.ucf.edu.
18
Bazilian, M.; Onyeji, I.; Liebreich, M.; MacGill, I.; Chase, J.; Shah, J.; Gielen, D.; Arent, D.; Landfear,
D.; Zhengrong, S. (2013). "Re-considering the economics of photovoltaic power" (PDF). Renewable
Energy. 53: 329–338. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.692.1880. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2012.11.029. Archived from
the original (PDF) on 31 May 2014.

7
 Renewable energy technologies have
generally gotten cheaper since their
invention.19 Renewable energy systems have
become cheaper to build than fossil fuel
power plants across much of the world, thanks
to advances in wind and solar energy
technology, in particular.20

Price per watt history for conventional (c-Si)

solar cells since 1977

VI. Growth:
Solar photovoltaics formed the largest body of research among the seven sustainable energy
types examined in a global bibliometric study, with the annual scientific output growing from 9,094
publications in 2011 to 14,447 publications in 2019.21
Likewise, the application of solar photovoltaics is growing rapidly and worldwide installed
capacity reached about 515 gigawatts (GW) by 2018. 22 The total power output of the world's PV
capacity in a calendar year is now beyond 500 TWh of electricity. This represents 2% of worldwide
electricity demand. More than 100 countries use solar PV. China is followed by the United States
and Japan, while installations in Germany, once the world's largest producer, have been slowing
down.
China has the world's largest solar power capacity, with 253 GW of installed capacity at the
end-2020 compared with about 151 GW in the European Union, according to International Energy
Agency data.23

Top 10 PV countries in 2019 (MW)

19
Harris, Arno (31 August 2011). "A Silver Lining in Declining Solar Prices". Renewable Energy World.
20
Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2019. Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency.
2020.
21
Straza; Schneegans (11 June 2021). Are we using science for smarter development?. Paris: UNESCO.
22
"Snapshot of Global Photovoltaic Markets 2017" (PDF). report. International Energy Agency. 19 April
2017.
23
Reuters (23 July 2021). "China to add 55-65 GW of solar power capacity in 2021 -industry body".
Reuters.

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 Installed and total solar power capacity in 2019 (MW)24

Number Nation Total capacity Added capacity

1 China 204,700 30,100

2 United States 75,900 13,300

3 Japan 63,000 7,000

4 Germany 49,200 3,900

5 India 42,800 9,900

6 Italy 20,800 600

7 Australia 15,928 3,700

8 United Kingdom 13,300 233

9 South Korea 11,200 3,100

10 France 9,900 900

Data: IEA-PVPS Snapshot of Global PV Markets 2020 report, April 2020

In 2017 it was thought probable that by 2030 global PV installed capacities could be between
3,000 and 10,000 GW. Greenpeace in 2010 claimed that 1,845 GW of PV systems worldwide could
be generating approximately 2,646 TWh/year of electricity by 2030, and by 2050 over 20% of all
electricity could be provided by PV.25

VII. Applications:
There are many practical applications for the use of solar panels or photovoltaics covering every
technological domain under the sun. From the fields of the agricultural industry as a power source
for irrigation to its usage in remote health care facilities to refrigerate medical supplies. Other
applications include power generation at various scales and attempts to integrate them into homes
and public infrastructure. PV modules are used in photovoltaic systems and include a large variety
of electrical devices.

24
"Snapshot 2020 – IEA-PVPS". iea-pvps.org.
25
Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Empowering the World Archived 22 August 2012 at the Wayback
Machine. Epia.org (22 September 2012).

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VII.1. Photovoltaic systems:
A photovoltaic system, or solar PV system is a power system designed to supply usable solar
power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including
solar panels to absorb and directly convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to change the
electric current from DC to AC, as well as mounting, cabling and other electrical accessories. PV
systems range from small, roof-top mounted or building-integrated systems with capacities from a
few to several tens of kilowatts, to large utility-scale power stations of hundreds of megawatts.
Nowadays, most PV systems are grid-connected, while stand-alone systems only account for a
small portion of the market.
VII.2. Photo sensors:
Photosensors are sensors of light or other electromagnetic radiation. A photo detector has a p–n
junction that converts light photons into current. The absorbed photons make electron–hole pairs in
the depletion region. Photodiodes and photo transistors are a few examples of photo detectors. Solar
cells convert some of the light energy absorbed into electrical energy.

VIII. Advantages:
 Pollution and energy in production:
The 122 PW of sunlight reaching the Earth's surface is plentiful—almost 10,000 times more
than the 13 TW equivalent of average power consumed in 2005 by humans. 26 This abundance leads
to the suggestion that it will not be long before solar energy will become the world's primary energy
source. Additionally, solar electric generation has the highest power density (global mean of 170
W/m2) among renewable energies.27
Solar power is pollution-free during use, which enables it to cut down on pollution when it is
substituted for other energy sources. For example, MIT estimated that 52,000 people per year die
prematurely in the U.S. from coal-fired power plant pollution and all but one of these deaths could
be prevented from using PV to replace coal. Production end-wastes and emissions are manageable
using existing pollution controls. End-of-use recycling technologies are under development and
policies are being produced that encourage recycling from producers.
PV installations could ideally operate for 100 years or even more 28 with little maintenance or
intervention after their initial set-up, so after the initial capital cost of building any solar power
plant, operating costs are extremely low compared to existing power technologies.
Grid-connected solar electricity can be used locally thus reducing transmission/distribution
losses (transmission losses in the US were approximately 7.2% in 1995).
 Solar cell research investment:
Compared to fossil and nuclear energy sources, very little research money has been invested in
the development of solar cells, so there is considerable room for improvement. Nevertheless,
experimental high efficiency solar cells already have efficiencies of over 40% in case of
26
Smil, Vaclav (2006) Energy at the Crossroads. oecd.org.
27
Same source as before !
28
Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy, Archived 26 December 2013.

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concentrating photovoltaic cells and efficiencies are rapidly rising while mass-production costs are
rapidly falling.29
 Housing subsidies:
In some states of the United States, much of the investment in a home-mounted system may be
lost if the homeowner moves and the buyer puts less value on the system than the seller. The city of
Berkeley developed an innovative financing method to remove this limitation, by adding a tax
assessment that is transferred with the home to pay for the solar panels. 30 Now known as PACE,
Property Assessed Clean Energy, 30 U.S. states have duplicated this solution.

IX. Disadvantages:
 Impact on electricity network:
For behind-the-meter rooftop photovoltaic systems, the energy flow becomes two-way. When
there is more local generation than consumption, electricity is exported to the grid, allowing for net
metering. However, electricity networks traditionally are not designed to deal with two-way energy
transfer, which may introduce technical issues. An over-voltage issue may come out as the
electricity flows from these PV households back to the network. There are solutions to manage the
over-voltage issue, such as regulating PV inverter power factor, new voltage and energy control
equipment at electricity distributor level, re-conductor the electricity wires, demand side
management, etc. There are often limitations and costs related to these solutions.
High generation during the middle of the day reduces the net generation demand, but higher
peak net demand as the sun goes down can require rapid ramping of utility generating stations,
producing a load profile called the duck curve.
 Implications for electricity bill management and energy investment:
There is no silver bullet in electricity or energy demand and bill management, because
customers (sites) have different specific situations, e.g. different comfort/convenience needs,
different electricity tariffs, or different usage patterns. Electricity tariff may have a few elements,
such as daily access and metering charge, energy charge (based on kWh, MWh) or peak demand
charge (e.g. a price for the highest 30min energy consumption in a month). PV is a promising
option for reducing energy charges when electricity prices are reasonably high and continuously
increasing, such as in Australia and Germany. However, for sites with peak demand charge in place,
PV may be less attractive if peak demands mostly occur in the late afternoon to early evening, for
example in residential communities. Overall, energy investment is largely an economic decision and
it is better to make investment decisions based on systematic evaluation of options in operational
improvement, energy efficiency, onsite generation and energy storage.

29
Study Sees Solar Cost-Competitive In Europe By 2015. Solar Cells Info (16 October 2007).
30
"Berkeley FIRST Solar Financing – City of Berkeley, CA". cityofberkeley.info. Archived from the
original on 2 June 2013.

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Conclusion:
The potential of solar energy is enormous as every day the earth receives solar
energy about 200,000 times the total electricity generation capacity of the world. Although
it is free energy, the high cost of collecting, converting and storing it limited the
exploitation of this energy. Nevertheless, researchers are conducting solar energy
experiments for many projects to take advantage of this energy, and one of the projects that
has been proposed for the future is the use of solar power stations via satellites to supply the
earth In this project, the satellite, which is equipped with large solar panels, collects solar
energy continuously without being affected by the atmosphere, and then the electricity is

12
converted into microwave ovens and then transmitted to the ground, where the microwave
energy is converted back into electricity for distribution.

13