The Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (Sessa) has recognized to Queen’s University in Canada researchers for their role breakthrough solar technology. Stephen Harrison and Joshua Pearce developed a new solar PV thermal (PVT) system that generates electricity and heat.
Conventional solar PVTs are usually made with crystal silicon cells generating electricity but little heat, but the Canadians’ prototype uses amorphuous silicon cells. Their research shows increased heat generation because of higher operating temperatures and 10% more solar electric output. Amorphuous silicon cells require less material which means lower manufacturing costs, and offers a higher return on investment. The research also shows the cells can be made into thicker cells as long as they are operated at higher temperatures in the PVT system.
Commenting on the discovery, Sessa Ombudsman Carel Ballack said developed countries like Canada, where most citizens are connected to the grid but are committed to boosting their use of sustainable energy sources, are running into ‘roof real estate’ issues when users want to use solar energy for both their water heating and electricity requirements. The system proposed by Harrison and Pearce could go a long way to solving those issues, he said.
Sessa said in a press release, “For South Africa, where many more people live off-the-grid, such a system could – provided it was built for local conditions and was cost-effective – alleviate the hardships they bear while providing them with the energy they need to study or start a small business.”
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