SUNLAB News
Advancing Photovoltaics for Economical Concentrator Systems (APECS)
A joint project between the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Research in Photonics and Morgan Solar Inc. starts in 2010, targeting cost reduction for both solar cells and concentrator systems. Funded by the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence from Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation, the project entitled APECS: Advancing Photovoltaics for Economical Concentrator Systems, will deploy a test site on the University of Ottawa campus and a larger demonstrator system off-site, both employing state-of-the-art light-guiding concentrator optics from Morgan Solar and commercial high-efficiency III-V triple-junction solar cells. The project will additionally research the design and growth of III-V multi-junction solar cells on low cost substrate materials. This project is headed by Professors Trevor Hall, Karin Hinzer, Henry Schriemer, and Hanan Anis. Although the project consortium was modified since this original announcement, the main project goals and objectives remain unchanged.
Photovoltaic Innovation Network announced
Minister of Industry, Tony Clement, today announced the funding of the NSERC Photovoltaic Innovation Network, a Canada-wide initiative comprised of 13 universities with >25 primary researchers, spear-headed by Rafael Kleiman of McMaster University. The University of Ottawa's SUNLab is focused on two primary collaborative projects within the Network, with Karin Hinzer as a co-leader of inorganic devices, one of the four main themes of the network. This network has been featured in a recent University of Ottawa press release
Spectrolab high-concentration solar simulator production unit received
The SUNLab has received from Spectrolab Inc. the updated production unit of its newest type of solar simulator, XT-30, the very first production unit produced worldwide. Designed specifically for high-efficiency multi-junction III-V solar cells for concentrated photovoltaic applications, it is a unique design which provides very-high concentrations, up to >1000 suns of continuous illumination, allowing detailed investigations into cells and chip-on-carrier devices under conditions more closely simulating real-world use than for the more common flash solar simulators.
Spectrolab high-concentration solar simulator prototype received
The SUNLab has received from Spectrolab Inc. a prototype unit for a new type of solar simulator design providing very-high concentrations, up to >1000 suns. Designed specifically for high-efficiency multi-junction III-V solar cells for concentrated photovoltaic applications, the very first production unit worldwide is expected to arrive at our lab in the coming months.
SDTC project funded
Professors Trevor Hall and Karin Hinzer, in partnership with Cyrium Technologies and the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC), have been awarded a multi-million dollar grant from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), officially announced on 28 July 2008. The objectives of this project are to boost the effectiveness of multijunction solar cells and produce electricity at a lower cost than with traditional silicon panels. The project includes the deployment of two demonstration concentrator systems using these state-of-the-art solar cells at the downtown University of Ottawa campus.
SUNRISE project funded
Drs. Trevor Hall, Karin Hinzer, and Henry Schriemer from the CRPuO have won a $3-million research fund. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced the winners of a special $15-million nanotechnology research funding competition. Among the five winning projects is "SUNRISE: Semiconductors Using Nanostructures for Record Increases in Solar-Cell Efficiency", in which Drs. Hall, Hinzer, and Schriemer from the CRPuO play essential roles with their university and industrial collaborators.