On Earth and in Space: The Burst of Innovation in Silicon Photovoltaic Technologies!
Sébastien Dubois
Abstract
Silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are revolutionizing the energy transition. Installed solar PV capacity has reached several terawatts, and the selling price has fallen by a factor of 50 over the past 20 years. This success is due, in part, to significant technological innovations. Cell performance is approaching the limits of physics. However, efficiency records continue to be broken with the emergence of new device architectures. The environmental impact of this technology has also been significantly reduced. The processing of silicon is a striking example of this. This presentation will provide an overview of the silicon photovoltaic industry and review recent landmark innovations. Furthermore, the development of New Space and satellite constellations is driving rapid change in solar generator technologies: production must be scaled up and costs must be reduced. Silicon cells can meet these new requirements. However, this technology must continue to evolve to address the challenges of orbital deployment, such as radiation, thermal cycling, and micrometeorites. The presentation will discuss recent findings on adapting silicon cells to these extreme conditions.
Contact: Nicolas Barreau (MIOPS)
