VTT’S LIWE Facades OPV Solar Cell Efficiency : Efficiency testing of solar cells behind various materials

Abstract

This thesis studies the efficiency of organic photovoltaic (OPVs) solar panels provided by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. They have been developing ultra-thin, lightweight and flexible solar cells through their LIWE Facades “Feathery façades for positive energy buildings” project. Their project is briefly explained, as well as what OPVs are and how they function. The most important electrical characteristics of OPVs and how to calculate their efficiency conversion are also discussed.

VTT provided twelve solar panels, but this thesis will only look at six of them. Each solar panel was tested with four different materials at four different angles, making a total of ninety-six tests with calculated efficiencies. It was assumed that OPV solar panels could be a replacement of traditional heavy, silicon photovoltaic solar panels.