The Power of Design: Product Innovation in Sustainable Energy Technologies

C.7 Conclusions

The assignment was executed, and the design process delivered satisfying results. The PV market continues to grow, and it is expected that multicrystalline silicon solar cells will have the major market share in future years. The possibilities in redesigning solar cells are found in the metal contact patterns and the use of colored cells. The flower cell proves that the ideas of Radike and Sumhammer can be executed. Their paper described the theoretical possibilities of new front contact pattern designs. By applying their theory in practice, the flower cell was developed. The prototypes of the flower cells and PV modules with these cells give positive results. The efficiency loss of a new contact pattern is indeed low and acceptable. This is promising for the further development of new front contact patterns. The flower cells and cells with new front contact patterns are viable, especially in large batches. Every new contact pattern involves added costs, as such small-production series are expensive. For a design product in large volumes, however, these added costs are acceptable. Therefore, the flower cells can offer a feasible upgrade of PV module aesthetics.

The aesthetics of PV products have been less investigated, but there is awareness about the importance of aesthetical PV products. PV modules and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are installed in urban environments, and therefore their appearance plays a big role in the acceptance of PV systems. Finally, ...