Solar cell is a device that converts photon energy into electrical energy. Therefore, absorption of solar spectrum light is one of the most important characteristics to design the solar cell structures. Various methods have emerged to reduce optical losses, such as textured surfaces, back contact solar cells, anti-reflection layers. Here, the anti-reflection coating (ARC) layer is typically utilized whose refractive index value is between air (~1) and silicon (~4) such as SiN_x layer (~1.9). This research is to print a material called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to form a double anti-reflection layer. Light with wavelength in the range of 0.3 to 1.2 micrometers does not share a wavelength with solar cells. It is confirmed that the refractive index of PDMS (~1.4) is an ARC layer which decreases the reflectance of light absorption region on typical p-type solar cells with SiN_x layer surface. Optimized PDMS printing with analyzing optical property for cell structure can be the effective way against outer effects by encapsulation.

We prepared a CsPbI₂Br solution using Cesium iodide (CsI), Lead (II) bromide (PbBr₂) and Lead (II) iodide (PbI₂) materials into a polar solvent mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A simple spin coating technique was used for the fabrication of CsPbI₂Br absorber layer in the solution process. In order to prepare uniform coating of absorber film we adopted a hot-air process in assocation with the spin coating. It was confirmed that the thin film manufactured by the hot-air process had a higher absorption rate than that without it, and the optical band gap was measured 1.93 eV. The thin film of absorber was uniformly prepared and revealed the Black α-Cubic crystal phase as proved through X-ray diffraction analysis. Finally, a perovskite solar cell having an n-i-p structure was manufactured with a CsPbI₂Br perovskite absorption layer. From the solar cell, we obtained a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.97% in a forward measurement.

Lightweight and flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules are attractive for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications because of their easy construction and applicability. In this study, we fabricated lightweight and flexible c-Si PV modules using ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) front cover and shingled design string cells. The ETFE front cover instead of glass made the PV modules lighter in weight, and the shingled design string cells increased the flexibility. Finally, we fabricated a PV module with a conversion power of 240.08 W at an area of 1.25 m² and weighed only 2 kg/m². Moreover, to check the PV module's flexibility, we conducted a bending test. The difference of conversion power between the modules before and after bending shown was only 1.7 W, which showed a power reduction rate of about 0.7%.

For the high efficiency of the photovoltaic module, a high-output solar cell, which is the basis of photovoltaic power generation, is required. As the light receiving area of the solar cell increases, the light receiving area of the photovoltaic module also increases. Accordingly, recent trend is to use large-area solar cells such as M6 and M8 instead of M2-based solar cells for manufacturing the photovoltaic module and a study on the mechanical stiffness of the module with increased size is required. In this study, a mechanical load test corresponding to IEC-61215 was performed among the reliability tests of large-area photovoltaic modules. In order to confirm the degree to which the mechanical load test affects the photovoltaic module, the output and EL images were checked by sequentially increasing the pressure by 600 Pa at a pressure of 2400 Pa. Also, factors such as output and efficiency of large-area photovoltaic modules were verified through mechanical load testing of actual large-area photovoltaic modules and the rate of change was very small at 1%.

Solar energy is rapidly being utilized to generate power in Europe and other countries, but the environmental effect of building and operating solar farms is not fully understood. The building of a solar park demands the removal of certain vegetation and the leveling of the land. Solar energy infrastructure may involve considerable landscape change, altering soil biological processes and influencing hydrologic, carbon and vegetative dynamics. To rebuild the solar PV facilities soils, inherent plant fields might require to be re-established. Within the scope of this research, we presented an analysis of the effects that were caused by the solar farm.

The need for floating photovoltaic is being emphasized to expand renewable energy but low residents' acceptance is a major obstacle to the deployment of floating photovoltaic. Using the discrete choice experiment, this study analyzed the preferences for community-based floating photovoltaic projects and proposed a method to increase the residents' acceptance of floating photovoltaic projects. The estimates of the marginal willingness to accept (MWTA) of the distance, the coverage ratio, the landscape, the project owner (public institution), and the project owner (large company) are -0.69%p/km, 0.13%p/%p, -0.57%p, -2.95%p, -1.73%p, respectively. According to the result of simulation analysis, the residents' acceptance is significantly higher when the project is operated by a public institution, with a choice probability of 58%, than when the project is operated by a private company, with a choice probability of 29%, 12% for a large and small company, respectively. In addition, as a result of the analysis of the expected returns, the results show that the closer the distance from the residence to the power plant, the higher the expected return.

The economic feasibility of a photovoltaic (PV) system is greatly influenced by the initial investment cost for system installation. Also, electricity generation by PV system is highly important. The profits competitiveness of PV system will be maximized through intelligent operation and maintenance (O&M). Here, we developed a microconverter which can maximize electricity generation from PV modules by tracking the maximum power point of PV modules, and help efficient O&M. Also, the microconverter mitigates current mismatch caused by shading, hence maximize power generation. The microconverters were installed PV modules and demonstrated through the field tests. Power outputs such as voltage, string current were measured with variuos weather environments and partial shadings. We found that PV modules with the microconvertors shows 12.05% higher power generation compared to the reference PV modules.