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DelftX: Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies

Explore the main PV technologies in the current market, to gain in-depth knowledge on the design and processing methods of solar cells.

Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies
11 weeks
10–11 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
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Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies

About this course

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The technologies used to produce solar cells and photovoltaic modules are advancing to deliver highly efficient and flexible solar panels. In this course you will explore the main PV technologies in the current market. You will gain in-depth knowledge about crystalline silicon based solar cells (90% market share) as well as other emerging technologies including CdTe, CIGS and Perovskites. This courseprovides answers to the questions: How are solar cells made from raw materials? Which technologies have the potential to be the major players for different applications in the future?

This course is part of the Solar Energy Engineering MicroMasters Program designed to cover all physics and engineering aspects of photovoltaics: photovoltaic energy conversion, technologies and systems.

At a glance

  • Institution: DelftX
  • Subject: Engineering
  • Level: Advanced
  • Prerequisites:

    Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering and/or the successful completion of PV1x (or firm grasp of its content).

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills: Emerging Technologies, Photovoltaics, Market Share, Energy Conversion, Physics, Solar Cells

What you'll learn

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  • Design concepts and fabrication processes of various photovoltaic technologies,
  • In-depth knowledge on the entire crystalline silicon solar cell landscape including,
    • Market-leading polycrystalline based cells
    • High efficiency/cutting edge monocrystalline based solar cells
  • Application of thin film solar cells, like CIGS, CdTe, thin-film silicon, Perovskites,
  • Concentrated PV and space applications for III/V semiconductor based solar cells.

Audit learners can develop their skills and knowledge in relation to the above learning objectives by having access to the video lectures, a limited number of practice exercises and discussion forum.

Verified learners are offered a number of study tools to demonstrate they have mastered the learning objectives. They will have access to all exercises: practice, graded and exam questions.

Syllabus

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Part 1. Crystalline silicon

Week 1. Introduction & Crystalline Silicon I
1.2 Introduction to Silicon
1.3 Silicon Processing

Week 2. Crystalline Silicon II
2.1 c-Si Solar Cell Design
2.2 Advanced cell design
2.3 From cell to module

Part 2. Solar Cell Characterization

Week 3. Solar cell characterization
3.1 J-V Measurement
3.2 EQE Measurement
3.3 Reflectance - Transmittance Measurement
3.4 Lifetime Measurement

EXAM

Part 3. Thin Film Processing

Week 4. Thin Film Processing
4.1 Thin Film Design
4.2 Thin Film Deposition

Part 4. Thin Film Technologies

Week 5. Thin Film Silicon
5.1 TF Silicon Properties
5.2 Major Challenges
5.3 TF Silicon Processing
5.4 State of the Art TF Silicon Devices

EXAM

Week 6. Chalcogenides & III-V Technologies
6.1 Chalcogenides - CIGS
6.2 Chalcogenides - CdTe
6.3 III-V - Material and Devices
6.4 III-V - Special Applications

Week 7. Organic Photovoltaics
7.1 OPV Basics
7.2 OPV Technologies
7.3 Perovskites

Part 5. Comparing and Combining Technologies

Week 8. Comparing & Combining Technologies
8.1 Comparing PV Technologies
8.2 Hybrid PV Devices
8.3 Hybrid PV Systems

EXAM

Learner testimonials

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"TU Delft 's Solar Energy Engineering MicroMasters program is great to get a grasp of the overall science of solar energy. It provides context to the current industry trends, and at the same time gives you the tools you need to know where the industry will be in the next decade." --Bertram, The Netherlands

More about this course

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LICENSE

The course materials of this course are Copyright Delft University of Technology and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC-BY-NC-SA) 4.0 International License.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

This course is part of Solar Energy Engineering MicroMasters Program

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Expert instruction
5 graduate-level courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
1 year 1 month
9 - 10 hours per week

Ways to take this course

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Verified Track

Audit Track

Price

$250 USD

Free

Access to course materials

Unlimited

Limited

Expires on Feb 28, 2024

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