Solar Cells with Built-in Storage Capability
- Technology Benefits
- Efficientand low-cost solar energy generation and storageGenerate/storeelectricity during the day and discharge at nightOn-site energy storage capability eliminatesthe need for an external storage deviceIndependentlyscalable power and energy densitiesWorkseven in cloudy weather conditions
- Detailed Technology Description
- Solar cell for simultaneous electricitygeneration and storage during the day and use or discharge at night. MassCEC Catalyst award receiving technology 2017
- *Abstract
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This technology utilizing electro-active redoxcouples as energy-efficient media to store solar energy through photoelectrochemicalreactions. A high-capacity storage material integrated in the cell undergoesreversible photochromic switching, allowing for simultaneous electricity generation and storage during the day and use or discharge at night.
- *Background
- Today solar cells are typically coupled with rechargeable batteries toimprove reliability and availability of energy. Solar energy is first convertedto electricity and subsequently to chemical energy. Conventional devices add asolar power component to a storage device such as a battery, supercapacitor,thermoelectric generator, H2 fuel cell, etc. To accommodate this,smart load switch controllers have to be employed in the cell module to allowphoto-charge and discharge under different conditions. The major shortcomingsof this approach are high fabrication cost, complexity in operation, slowresponse to rapid shifts in demand, expensive (in dollar-per-kWh price)electricity and therefore poor efficiency.Instead, internal integration ofstorage capability directly into solar cells is more solution attractivefor higher efficiency and reliability.
- Country/Region
- USA
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