Prototyping and Characterization of TLC Photovoltaics

Solar panel cost has decreased dramatically over the year, but to fully displace fossil fuels from the power sector panels must further decrease in cost, and must increase in efficiency and durability.
TLC is a novel solar panel design that combines high efficiency, high durability and low cost. TLC uses three very-low-cost optical stages to concentrate up to 1500x onto array of ultra-efficient tandem microcells. Detailed optical, thermal, mechanical, electrical and cost studies show that TLC has exceptional promise – with today’s tandem cells, module efficiency should be twice that of typical silicon solar panels, cost per Watt should be roughly half that of silicon panels, and well-cooled tandem cells in a hermetically sealed module should provide a 50-year life.
This Mitacs project will build the first TLC prototype and characterize its performance on-sun.

Faculty Supervisor:

Luc Fréchette;Vincent Aimez

Student:

Partner:

Terra Firma Innovations

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université de Sherbrooke

Program: