Organic Solar Photovoltaic Market Outlook  

Executive Summary 5

Introduction to Solar Power 6

Overview 6
Advantages & Disadvantages of Solar Power 6
Availability of Solar Power 8

A Look at the Utility of Solar Power 10

Daylighting 10
Heliostat Power Plants 11
Passive Solar Building Design 11
Solar Cookers 15
Solar Electric Vehicles 16
Solar Hot Water Systems 22
Solar Photovoltaic Technology 23
Solar Power Satellites 25
Solar Thermal Energy 34
Solar Updraft Tower 34

Introduction to Solar Photovoltaics 39

Overview 39
History of Solar Cells 41
A Look at the Three Generations of PV Cells 43
A Brief Look at Concentrator Cells 45
Applications 46
Sunlight Conditions for Using Solar PV Cells 46
Impact of Weather Conditions on PV Cells 49
PV Technology in Isolated Generation 49
Impact of Photovoltaic Cells on the Environment 51

Applications of Solar PV 54

Stand Alone PV Systems 54
Photovoltaic Power Station 55
PV in Buildings 56
Photovoltaics with Battery Storage 57
The Concept of PV Storage 57
Rural Electrification 58
Connecting Generators with PV 58
Utilities with a Grid-Connected PV System 59
Hybrid Power Systems 60
Distributed Generation & PV 60
Small Scale DIY Solar Systems 63

Introduction to Organic Photovoltaics 65

Introduction 65
History 65
Organic PV Cells Mechanism 71
Types of Junctions 73
Film Morphology 78
Controlled Growth Heterojunction 78
Growth Techniques 79
Vacuum Thermal Evaporation 80
Organic Vapor Phase Deposition 81
Organic PV Markets 82

Are Traditional Solar Cells better than Organic PV Cells? 88

OPVC Production Impacts 94

Introduction 94
Efficiency 96
Longevity 97
Economics 98
Conclusion 100

Processing Techniques for OPVCs 101
Spin Casting 101
Nanoimprint Lithography 102
Vacuum Evaporation 104

Case Studies 106

National Solar Technology Roadmap 106
Boron Nitride Nanotube-Loaded Polymerand OVPCs 107

Major Players 110

Amonix Incorporated 110
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc 111
BP Solar 112
Canon 114
Entech Inc 115
Ersol 116
Ertex Solar 117
Evergreen Solar, Inc 117
Ever-Q 119
First Solar, Inc 120
GT Solar 121
HelioVolt Corporation 123
Konarka Technologies, Inc 124
Kyocera Solar 127
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation 128
Nanosolar 129
Photowatt International 131
Sanyo Electric 133
Shell Solar 133
Siemens Solar 135
Solyndra 136
SunPower Corporation 138
TerraSolar, Inc 140
United Solar Ovonic LLC 141

Appendix 143

Glossary 152

About the Publisher 177

List of Figures and Tables

Figures

Figure 1: A Solar Cell Made from a Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer 41
Figure 2: Worldwide Solar Insolation Levels 48
Figure 3: Hybrid Power Systems 60
Figure 4: Conventional Distribution Network 62
Figure 5: A Distribution Network with Distributed Generation 63
Figure 6: Device Structures of OPV Cells: a) Single Layer OPV Cell; b) Bilayer OPV Cell; c) Bulk Heterojunction OPV Cell 66
Figure 7: Photoinduced Charge Transfer from Conjugated Polymer, PPV, to C60 68
Figure 8: Morphology of P3HT & PCBM Blend OPV CELL: a) Molecular Structures of P3HT & PCBM & Device Cross Section of OPV Cell; b) TEM Image of Blend Composite of P3HT & PCBM; c) Schematic Diagram of Phase Separated Blend of P3HT & PCBM 70
Figure 9: Examples of OPV Materials 72
Figure 10: Sketch of a Single Layer OPV Cell 73
Figure 11: Sketch of a Multilayer OPV Cell 75
Figure 12: Sketch of a Dispersed Junction PV Cell 77
Figure 13: (a) Highly Folded Heterojunction; (b) Hetero-junction with Controlled Growth 79
Figure 14: Vapor Thermal Evaporation 80
Figure 15: Organic Vapor Phase Deposition 82
Figure 16: Definition of Terms: Absorption Window; Ideal, Optimistic &
Realistic Scenario for Absorption & Quantum Efficiency QE 89
Figure 17: Maximum Efficiency as aFunction of the Bandgap in a Solar Cell with One Active Material A Decrease of the Absorption Window Leads to a Shift (Increase) in the Optimal Bandgap 90
Figure 18: Definition of Terms: Absorber, HOMO 92
Figure 19: Scheme of Spin Coating Process 101
Figure 20: Nanoimprint Lithography
Process Scheme: a) and b) Imprinting; c) Demolding; and d) Anisotropic Etching 102
Figure 21: Diagram of Vacuum Evaporator 104
Figure 22: Parabolic Trough 143
Figure 23: Central Receiver or Solar Tower 143
Figure 24: Parabolic Dish 144
Figure 25: Photovoltaic Roof System 144
Figure 26: Cost of PV to Consumers & Manufacturing Shipments 144
Figure 27: A Schematic Arrangement of a PV Cell 145
Figure 28: Solar Parabolic Trough System Combined with Fossil Fuel Firing to Generate Electrical Power 146
Figure 29: Arrangement of a Central Receiver Solar Thermal System 147
Figure 30: A Solar Pond Arrangement 147
Figure 31: Integrated Solar/Combined Cycle System (ISCC) 150
Figure 32: Organic Heterojunction 151

Tables

Table 1: Early Solar Thermal Power Plants 148
Table 2: Comparison of Solar Thermal Power Technologies 149
Table 3: Cost Reductions in Parabolic Trough Solar Thermal Power Plants 150