- Offer Profile
- The Photovoltaic Technology
Laboratory is part of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
at the University of Cyprus. One of the main priorities of the Department is
to develop a research portfolio into the area of renewable energy sources
with emphasis on solar and PV systems, harnessing thus the excellent solar
resource that exists in Cyprus.
Product Portfolio
Part of the outdoor testing facilities
- Our team at the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, University of Cyprus are delighted to announce the successful
completion of the first Photovoltaics Park of its kind in Cyprus, situated
at the New Campus of the University of Cyprus. Recognising the potential
importance of the area of Photovoltaics for the future energy needs of
Cyprus, we have instigated a collaboration with the Institute of Physical
Electronics, University of Stuttgart, Germany, one of the pioneering
research centres of excellence in Europe in the field of Renewable Sources
of Energy and in particular in Photovoltaics and Solar Cells. The PV Park
has materialised through a research project recently funded by the BMU (The
German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
Energy) in Germany. Our team has secured the installation of a PV park worth
over 200000 euro at the University and has also received further funding
through the European Union and more specifically through an INTERREG
program. In addition we are in the process of finalising the details for our
participation in other European projects in the near future.
Part of the
outdoor testing facilities
- Our group has developed state-of-the-art outdoor and
indoor facilities for the characterisation, evaluation, and monitoring of
different PV technologies ranging from crystalline silicon to thin film
technologies, concentrators as well as novel technologies such as quantum
well, organic, flexible and building integrated photovoltaics. Our work
focuses in particular on the understanding of their operation under real and
simulated, standardized conditions, the development of models for the
characterisation of these technologies based on outdoor exposure and the
study of degradation, reliability, stability and durability. Of particular
interest to us is the study of degradation under outdoor and indoor
conditions and the side-by-side comparison in order to deduce information
about the mechanisms of degradation. Furthermore, the development of
protocols for the characterisation of new technologies such as
nanostructured cells and multijunction technologies is amongst our primary
aims.
2-axis tracker with concentrator technologies
- The outdoor facilities consist of diagnostic equipment
for the measurement and monitoring at a high resolution of all the important
environmental and operational parameters for photovoltaic systems (including
the spectrum on an accurate 2-axis tracker and at the plane of array). 25
different grid-connected PV systems, of different technologies, each one
having a nominal power of ~1 kWp are currently being monitored. The
technologies range from fixed-system mono-crystalline, poly-crystalline and
amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride (CdTe), CuInSe2, HIT-cell and other
high efficiency solar cell technologies from a range of manufacturers such
as Oerlikon, Schott Solar, T-Solar, Q-Cells, BP Solar, Attersa, Sanyo,
Solon, SunPower etc. Tracker systems are also installed with the latest in
concentrator technologies, covering the majority of the current and
up-and-coming PV technologies.
NOCT testing
- The aim of the continuous monitoring of PV systems is to
assess their performance while exposed to the same meteorological
conditions. Furthermore, we aim at developing models in order to enhance our
understanding of the underlying processes, especially for new technologies,
and to optimise the systems for improved performance. Monitoring of the
concentrator systems also allow for direct comparisons and assessments of
the technologies. The effects of spectrum, temperature, mismatches and
optical losses on the performance of the systems are also of significant
interest.
Our indoor facilities consist of a climatic chamber, a solar simulator, a UV
chamber, cell and lens characterisation systems and spectral response
measuring equipment. We are in the process of rendering our facilities 17025
certified for type approval and qualification testing of crystalline, thin
film and concentrator technologies based on the IEC 61215, 61646 and 62108
standards respectively.
NOCT testing
- Further work includes solar assisted desalination and
cooling, grid integration, power quality issues in the presence of large
penetration of solar energy, energy management systems, automation and
telemetry, development of solutions for remote and accurate monitoring of PV
systems and solar thermal technologies.
We are in close cooperation with the relevant bodies responsible for the
energy policy in Cyprus, such as the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority, the
Cyprus Institute of Energy, the Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation and
the Electricity Authority of Cyprus in an attempt to disseminate best
practices in Cyprus and to encourage the uptake of PV. Members of our group
represent Cyprus in European Energy Committees such as the Energy Committee
for the FP7, the SET Plan, the European Standards Committees on PV and the
EU PV Mirror Group. Furthermore, our staff act as expert evaluators
predominantly for Energy Proposals within the FP7 and other National
initiatives.
2-axis tracker DNI, spectrum and irradiance monitoring
- We have received funding through the EU, the National
Research Funding Agency in Cyprus as well as the Electricity Authority of
Cyprus and the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority.
We are looking to conduct high quality research in the area of solar energy
technologies and be actively involved in European initiatives that will
enable us to contribute to the European scene but also achieve transfer of
knowledge to our country in a field of utmost importance for the future of
the energy mix in Cyprus.
Solar simulator
Cell tester
UV chamber
Climatic chamber