Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-00451, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Li, Yuning (University of Waterloo), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Ontario, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for Universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells, which convert sunlight directly into electrical power, is the most sustainable and_x000D_
clean energy technology available up to date. Tremendous efforts and investment have been made to develop_x000D_
more efficient and affording PV solar cells to promote a wider use of solar cells. A typical solar cell is_x000D_
comprised of front contact (busbars and fingers) to collect electrons, which occupy about 9-10% of the PV_x000D_
module. The busbars and fingers are made of metals such as silver, aluminum or copper, which are not_x000D_
transparent and reflect a significant portion of sunlight, reducing the sun light harvesting and thus the efficiency_x000D_
(~2%) of a PV module._x000D_
Canadian Solar, a world leader in the PV industry (the third largest in the world), been investing heavily on the_x000D_
development and adoption of new technologies that can improve their products. In this proposed project, Prof._x000D_
Yuning and Canadian Solar will work together to develop a technology to minimize improve the PV module_x000D_
efficiency by utilizing a sunlight redirecting film on the front contacts. Two approaches will be explored. The_x000D_
first one is based on the special microstructured surface of the polymer film, which will reflect ad redirect most_x000D_
of the sunlight to the active area. The second approach will use a polymer film, which contain nanoparticles_x000D_
that will scatter the sunlight to the surface of the active cell area._x000D_
The new solar PV panels developed through this collaboration will promote a wider use of solar PV in Canada,_x000D_
which will contribute to less fossil fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emission in Canada, and the betterment_x000D_
of the lives of Canadians., program purpose french : Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells, which convert sunlight directly into electrical power, is the most sustainable and_x000D_
clean energy technology available up to date. Tremendous efforts and investment have been made to develop_x000D_
more efficient and affording PV solar cells to promote a wider use of solar cells. A typical solar cell is_x000D_
comprised of front contact (busbars and fingers) to collect electrons, which occupy about 9-10% of the PV_x000D_
module. The busbars and fingers are made of metals such as silver, aluminum or copper, which are not_x000D_
transparent and reflect a significant portion of sunlight, reducing the sun light harvesting and thus the efficiency_x000D_
(~2%) of a PV module._x000D_
Canadian Solar, a world leader in the PV industry (the third largest in the world), been investing heavily on the_x000D_
development and adoption of new technologies that can improve their products. In this proposed project, Prof._x000D_
Yuning and Canadian Solar will work together to develop a technology to minimize improve the PV module_x000D_
efficiency by utilizing a sunlight redirecting film on the front contacts. Two approaches will be explored. The_x000D_
first one is based on the special microstructured surface of the polymer film, which will reflect ad redirect most_x000D_
of the sunlight to the active area. The second approach will use a polymer film, which contain nanoparticles_x000D_
that will scatter the sunlight to the surface of the active cell area._x000D_
The new solar PV panels developed through this collaboration will promote a wider use of solar PV in Canada,_x000D_
which will contribute to less fossil fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emission in Canada, and the betterment_x000D_
of the lives of Canadians., agreement title english : Study of solar light redirecting films for enhancing the power conversion efficiency of solar cells, agreement title french : Study of solar light redirecting films for enhancing the power conversion efficiency of solar cells, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2017-06-14, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada