6.2.3 Agricultural PV
6.2.4 Emerging Applications

Investigators

ANU – Marco Ernst, UNSW - Jose Bilbao, Ziv Hameiri, Ivan Perez-Wurfel, Santosh Shrestha, Nathan Chang, Anna Bruce, CSIRO – Anthony Chesman

​

Industry Partner

Tindo Solar

 

Aims and objectives

This task aims to identify opportunities to increase large-scale deployment of solar energy by addressing the challenges of system design for photovoltaics in agriculture. It will do so by undertaking detailed modelling and design to achieve an understanding of the role of mono, bifacial photovoltaic and flexible technologies in the context of complex environmental factors and the impact on agricultural activities.

 

Activities

• Develop improved yield modelling for AgriPV systems: considering spectral albedo impact on bifacial systems, and with validation using data from a proposed experimental AgriPV system (~50 kW)

• Design and optimization of PV systems considering agricultural land-use: access requirements, ground conditions with varying spectral albedo, impact of soiling, monitoring requirements.

• Reciprocal impact of photovoltaic system and agricultural land use: impact on photosynthetically active radiation, impact on microclimate, potential shading by crops, Soiling impact study with experimental data.

​

6.2.4 Emerging Applications

​

Photovoltaic deployment at TW scales will require ultra-low-cost photovoltaics that operates at high efficiency for decades. Complementing the TW scale deployment, there are emerging sectors where photovoltaics may not have the same potential for scale of deployment but will have an increasing and important role and at a higher value point. These areas include the transport, agriculture, space and building sectors. Each of these sectors presents distinct photovoltaic requirements, considered in Table 1. The development of photovoltaics built-for purpose across these sectors presents a growing opportunity for Australia to continue to increase the uptake of renewables, drive reductions in carbon emissions across diverse sectors, increase energy resilience, develop new photovoltaic technologies, capture valuable IP, and diversify the photovoltaic industry in terms of technologies, skills, and supply chains.

​

Building Integrated PV (BIPV)

​

Investigators

Prof. Jacek Jasieniak (Monash), Prof. Anita Ho-Baillie (University of Sydney), Dr. Anthony Chesman (CSIRO), Dr. Doojin Vak (CSIRO), A/Prof Xiaojing Hao (UNSW) Industry Partners

CSR Viridian, Lendlease, will need to explore more options in due course.

Research Activities and Plans

• Report on market and techno-economic analysis

• Review and develop digital tools to predict building to city scale opportunities.

• Assess the operation, performance and stabilities of existing and emerging BIPV (in field)

• Target lab scale demonstration of BIPV windows with >40% average visible transmittance, active area efficiencies of >15% and lifetimes of >10,000 hours (Years 2- 4)

• Development of module architectures to support scaling BIPV windows to achieve highefficiency and fulfill design aesthetics criteria (Years 3-8)

​

Transport

​

Investigators

A/Prof. Nicholas Ekins-Daukes, Dr Ivan Perez, Dr Jessica Yajie Jiang, Prof. Renate Egan

Industry Partners

Current: ACE EV (QLD), Azur Space GmbH (DE) and SunMan (HK). Additional potential future partners include Custom Bus (NSW), Ebusco (NL) / Precision Buses (SA), EnerJIN (NSW), GoGet (NSW), Applied EV (VIC), IM Efficiency (NL), Audi (DE), IEA PV Power Systems Program.

Activities

New non-planar, conformal, coloured PV module technologies required together with associated power management, test, manufacturing, safety and performance standards. ACAP could address the following research challenges;

• Progress solar irradiance resource assessment: (complete Y2) as a citizen science project, measuring solar irradiance from vehicles. Aim for a complete Australian dataset & stochastic model for Australian cities in (Y2).

• Target VIPV module prototype fabrication: (complete Y8)

• Demonstrate capability (1) to fabrication curved PV modules for vehicle integration followed by (2) technological optimisation, (3) technological transfer to industry (4) standards and safety testing.

​

Space

​

Investigators 

Prof Anita Ho-Baillie (Uni of Sydney), Prof Gavin Conibeer (UNSW), Prof Bram Hoex (UNSW), A/Prof Nicholas Ekins-Daukes (UNSW), A/Prof Xiaojing Hao (UNSW), A/Prof Ziv Hameiri (UNSW), Dr Udo Roemer (UNSW), Dr Michael Nielsen (UNSW), Dr Anastasia Soeriyadi (UNSW), Dr Anthony Chesman (CSIRO)

Industry Partners 

DHV Technology, Azure Space, Airbus, Regher Solar, Sabre Astronautics, Delta V New Space Alliance, Extraterrestrial Power.

Aims and Objectives

This research theme aims to develop radiation hardened photovoltaic technologies that can be deployed at low cost for the emerging space sector in Australia. Activities

● Develop thin silicon cells for enhanced radiation resistance in space

● Investigate space-based applications for perovskite solar cells

● Conduct radiation testing of space solar cells

● Develop lightweight and/or flexible space PV arrays

● Study laser power transfer to high efficiency PV cells

● Collaborate on III-V multijunction space cells

● Initiate collaboration on the PV aspects of planned missions.