Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?
Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of Graph Search.
This lecture discusses the importance of photovoltaics in transitioning to a sustainable society due to finite fossil fuel reserves and global warming. It explores the economical impact of photovoltaic power plants and the potential for ultra-high efficiency using tandem solar cells. The synergy approach combines high-efficiency technologies with low-cost ones, addressing technological challenges and achieving scientific impact. The lecture also covers the performance and reliability of GaAs nanowire cells, perovskite cells, and their up-scaling to mini-modules, as well as the development of near-infrared transparent cells and 4-terminal tandem cells. An energy harvesting demonstrator showcasing tandem cells controlled by low-power boards is presented.