Projects to Cover Areas Including Transparent Conductive Oxide, Modeling and Light Management
Abu Dhabi-UAE: 18 January, 2011 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced it has signed a strategic master research partnership agreement with Masdar PV GmbH, leading German-based manufacturer of photovoltaic films.
The agreement was signed at the Masdar Institute stand during the Word Future Energy Summit 2012 by Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, and Ho Ty Trinh, CEO of Masdar PV. Dr Steve Griffith, Executive Director of Institute Initiatives, was present on the occasion.
Organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, WFES 2012 opened on 16 January at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The world’s most influential leaders in renewable energy, including heads of state, policy makers, government officials, business leaders, and academics, have convened in Abu Dhabi, the emerging global hub for renewable energy, to discuss, promote and debate the challenges and solutions of the world’s energy requirements.
The agreement establishes a collaboration with Masdar PV in research related to silicon thin film photovoltaic technologies. The collaboration will be initiated with three individual research projects on transparent conductive oxide (TCO) glass layer optimization, photovoltaic device simulation and light management optimization. Dr Harald Bloess, Head of Engineering, Technology and Transfer, will be the Project Head at Masdar PV, while Dr. Steven Griffiths, Executive Director, Office of Institute Initiatives, and Professor of Practice, Chemical Engineering, will be Project Head at Masdar Institute.
Under the terms of first three individual project agreements, Sven Kittelmann, Senior Engineer-Projects, Masdar PV, and Adel Gougam, Assistant Professor, Masdar Institute, will handle the ‘TCO Glass Layers Optimization’ project, while Dr. Jens-Hendrik Zollondz, Manager R&D and Metrology, from Masdar PV, and Dr. Ammar Nayfeh, Assistant Professor, from Masdar Institute, will be responsible for the Photovoltaic Device Simulation project. Andreas Heidelberg, Manager – Process Integration, Masdar PV, Marcus Dahlem, Assistant Professor, from Masdar Institute, Jaime Viegas, Assistant Professor, from Masdar Institute, and Marco Stefancich, Assistant Professor, from Masdar Institute, will coordinate for the ‘Light Management Optimization / Trapping project.
The Photovoltaic Device Simulation research project to be conducted by Dr. Hendrik Zollondz and Dr. Ammar Nayfeh will focus on improving the efficiency of ‘Micromorph Tandem’ solar cellsusing Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) simulation. The TCO Glass Layers Optimization project aims to optimize the front TCO structure used in a super-state configuration for the Si thin film modules manufactured by Masdar PV. The Light Management Optimization / Trapping project by Dr. Andreas Heidelberg, Dr. Tim Frijnts, Dr. Marcus Dahlem, Dr. Jaime Viegas and Dr. Marco Stefancich aims to improve solar cell efficiencies through reduction of top cell reflectance, light trapping schemes and wavelength-selective intermediate reflectors for tandem cells.
Dr Fred Moavenzadeh said: “This research will not only help Masdar PV in achieving its technology roadmap objectives, but also will establish a close collaboration between Masdar Institute and Masdar PV in an area of great regional and global importance. Research into alternative energy sources, particularly solar energy, is of vital interest to Masdar and Abu Dhabi and we believe the know-how transfer from this agreement with Masdar PV will be mutually beneficial.”
Ho Ty Trinh said: “We are delighted to enter into this research agreement with Masdar Institute. We believe the faculty at the research-driven academic institution can be instrumental in helping Masdar PV achieve its technology roadmap. We are confident their expertise will complement those possessed by the Masdar PV team.”
Established in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change.
