International Co-operation

 Solar cells will soon be able to provide efficient heating and power, and be significantly cheaper, thanks to a joint project between researchers at The Australian National University and Tianjin University in China.

The two and a half year project between the two universities will pioneer solar cells immersed in cooling fluid. This technique is expected to result in solar cells which result in up to 70 percent efficient combined heat - and power - solar concentrators employing highly efficient and cost-effective solar cells.

The joint work began last year when the two universities started collaborating to develop a new generation of efficient and cheap solar concentrator receivers which provided both heating and power to users. But in the course of that project, the research teams conceptualised an approach of liquid immersed solar cells. This second project, which was launched today, is expected to provide vastly improved efficiency of the solar cells turning sunlight into power and heating.

The project was announced today at ANU by Professor Yiping Wang, Director of the Green Technology Centre at Tianjin University, along with his ANU colleagues Professor Andrew Blakers and Dr Igor Skryabin.

Professor Blakers, Director of the ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems at ANU, said the project will draw up on the talents from both universities.

 “We have assembled an excellent project team, lead by Dr Vernie Everett. The project will benefit from ANU expertise in building cost-effective solar cells, and Tianjin University's capabilities in chemical engineering,” he said.

Upon completion, the solar cells immersed in cooling fluids are likely to be in high demand from consumers eager to install solar heating and power.

 “Simultaneous provision of heat and electrical power is an attractive feature of our concentrators,” said Dr Skryabin. “This is in high demand for both residential and commercial customers. We are receiving inquiries from willing customers in Australia and overseas almost daily.”

Chinese researchers expect that the new solar concentration receivers will be competitive in providing solar electricity and heat in China.

“With growing support of our Government andindustries the new solar receivers will be beneficial for both residential andlarge scale energy generation in China,” said Professor Wang.