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Photovoltaic (PV) is one of the fastest growing electricity generation technologies in the world. Average annual growth rates of global PV-installations have reached around 45% for the last 15 years, which triggered a fast and ongoing reduction of production cost in PV industry. The presented work aims at consolidating historical price and cost information, deriving refined learning curves for PV modules and systems, and analysing the main factors of learning. For c-Si modules a valid learning rate of 17% is found based on a meta-analysis of various studies. In early years, even a learning rate of 30% is observed. As an example for thin-film PV, CdTe module cost reduce by 16% as the cumulated production output doubles. Interestingly, efficiency improvements contribute only in second order to the overall cost reduction for both technologies, emphasising the relevance of production excellence and economies of scale. On PV system level, a cost reduction of 14% per doubling of cumulated installed capacity is derived. Finally, a sensitivity analysis reveals that learning rate variations are only of minor influence on the overall global PV market potential. 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 4697-4702

The article analysed the evolution and current practice of engineering and economic approach regarding the issue of efficient energy management in food entreprises from the Republic of Moldova. The problem of reducing energy costs in addition to energy price growth factor has a major impact on managerial effort to reduce energy consumption. In this sense, the matrix of energy management is an effective tool for strategy and monitoring the efforts achieved in energy management in food enterprises, and the problem of minimizing energy costs is presented as an isoquant map described by classical production function.

{"references": ["H. C. Ong, T. M. I. Mahlia, H. H. Masjuki, \"A review on energy\nscenario and sustainable energy in Malaysia,\" Renewable and\nSustainable Energy Reviews, 1st issue, vol. 15, pp. 639-647, 2011.", "M. Bennet, and M. Newborough, \"Auditing energy use in cities,\"\nEnergy Policy, 2nd issue, vol. 29, pp. 125-134, 2001.", "L. P. Lombard, J. Ortiz, and C. Pout, \"A review on buildings energy\nconsumption information,\" Energy and Buildings, 3rd issue, vol. 40, pp.\n394-398, 2008.", "L. Jayamaha, \"Energy-efficient building systems,\" McGraw-Hill, 2007.", "J. E. Piper, \"Operations and maintenance manual for energy\nmanagement.- 1999. Quoted in W. Chung, Y. V. Hui, \"A study of\nenergy efficiency of private office buildings in Hong Kong,\" energy and\nBuildings, 6th issue, vol. 41, pp. 696-701, 2009.", "W. Y. Fung, W. T. Hung, S.W. Pang, and Y. L. Lee, \"Impact of urban\ntemperature on energy consumption,\" Energy, 14th issue, vol. 31, pp.\n2623-2367, 2006.", "S. A. Chan, \"Designing low energy buildings using Energy 10,\" 2004.", "C. Beggs, \"Energy management, supply and conservation,\" Elsevier,\n2nd ed., 2009.", "Gard Analytics, \"Types of energy audits,\" 2007.\n[10] S. Firth, K. Lomas, A. Wright, and R. Wall, \"Identifying trends in the\nuse of domestic appliances from household electricity consumption\nmeasurements,\" Energy and Buildings, 5th issue, vol. 40, pp. 926-936,\n2008."]} The increase in energy demand has raised concerns over adverse impacts on the environment from energy generation. It is important to understand the status of energy consumption for institutions such as Curtin Sarawak to ensure the sustainability of energy usage, and also to reduce its costs. In this study, a preliminary audit framework was developed and was conducted around the Malaysian campus to obtain information such as the number and specifications of electrical appliances, built-up area and ambient temperature to understand the relationship of these factors with energy consumption. It was found that the number and types of electrical appliances, population and activities in the campus impacted the energy consumption of Curtin Sarawak directly. However, the built-up area and ambient temperature showed no clear correlation with energy consumption. An investigation of the diurnal and seasonal energy consumption of the campus was also carried out. From the data, recommendations were made to improve the energy efficiency of the campus.

For more than five decades, photovoltaic technology has seen continuous improvements, as costs have been consistently lowered, processes have been simplified and temperatures lowered. While significant improvements have been made at the cell level, limitations remain at the module level or at the interface between the cell and the module, which is known as the cell metallization-interconnection. Meyer Burger develops the Smart Wire Connection Technology (SWCT) required to close this gap and get the highest possible benefit out of highefficiency solar cell performance. SWCT technology implies a change of paradigm. It requires the combination of lamination and interconnection into a single lamination step. Moreover, the module's silver paste consumption can be significantly reduced (< 2.4g/60 cells module) and even eliminated when Cu plating is used. There are also fewer electrical and optical losses thanks to the shorter length of the fingers and better light in-coupling than standard ribbon technologies. 28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 495-499

A major issue with all flow batteries is the control of the imbalance between the two half-cell electrolytes that arises as a result of the differential transfer of ions across the membrane and the inevitable gassing side reactions that can occur during charging. While a number of methods are available to rebalance electrolyte state of charge and restore capacity, reliable methods are needed to monitor the state-of-charge of each individual half-cell solution in order to determine the appropriate action to be taken by the battery control system. In this study different methods of state-of-charge monitoring have been considered for application in the All-Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRB). Half-cell potentials and electrolyte conductivities were calibrated as a function of state-of-charge and evaluated for state-of-charge monitoring of individual half-cell electrolytes for the purpose of capacity restoration and control. An empirical model based on experimental conductivity data has been shown to provide accurate predictions, with an average error of 0.77%, of the conductivity of the positive half-cell electrolyte as a potential state-of-charge detection tool. Separate monitoring of the two half-cell electrolyte potentials has also been used to determine the state-of-charge of each half-cell solution in order to detect system imbalance. This was used in small laboratory cell tests to determine necessary actions to restore capacity by either remixing the two solutions, or by using chemical rebalancing methods, depending on the cause of the solution imbalance. European Chemical Bulletin, Vol 1, No 12 (2012): European Chemical Bulletin

Grid-parity is a very important milestone for further photovoltaic (PV) diffusion. A grid-parity model is presented, which is based on levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) coupled with the experience curve approach. Relevant assumptions for the model are given and its key driving forces are discussed in detail. Results of the analysis are shown for more than 150 countries and a total of 305 market segments all over the world. High PV industry growth rates enable a fast reduction of LCOE. Depletion of fossil fuel resources and climate change mitigation forces societies to internalize these effects and pave the way for sustainable energy technologies. First grid-parity events occur right now. The 2010s are characterized by ongoing grid-parity events throughout the most regions in the world, reaching an addressable market of about 75% up to 90% of total global electricity market. In consequence, new political frameworks for maximizing social benefits will be required. In parallel, PV industry tackle its next milestone, fuel-parity. In conclusion, PV is on the pathway to become a highly competitive energy technology. 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition / 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 6-10 September 2010, Valencia, Spain; 5283-5304

Peer-reviewed journal article Applied Rheology

Restrained generation from wind and solar PV can provide a frequency response that is fast in comparison to conventional generation. However, the reduced inertia in a dispatch with little conventional generation can cause very fast initial drop in the frequency and it may be difficult to mitigate that with wind and solar PV alone. In the paper, we outline a method to compare frequency control strategies in such a system, present typical response characteristics of different options, and simulate some example cases for frequency containment in the Iberian power system. The results are demonstrative and additional analysis is required to draw more robust conclusions and to conclude on the costs and benefits of using wind and PV for frequency response.

In this paper, the application of a bias voltage and a corona discharge system are used to create and store negative charge in silicon nitride films of silicon dioxide/silicon nitride stacks. The silicon nitride films are deposited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition, while the silicon dioxide films are thermally grown. The charge injection mechanism is investigated. Effective lifetime measurements on both textured and planar, as well as both boron diffused and undiffused silicon samples passivated with silicon oxide / silicon nitride stacks show that the creation of negative charge in the nitride layer results in an improvement in the surface passivation for all samples, with very low (<2cm/s) surface recombination velocities demonstrated for planar, undiffused samples. The manipulation of charge can therefore be exploited to improve the conversion efficiency of silicon solar cells. 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, 21-25 September 2009, Hamburg, Germany; 72-76