Solar Panels for the Australian Environment
- $502k Funded by ARENA
- $1.21m Total project cost
Summary
The Solar Panels for the Australian Environment recognises that designing a PV module for Australian conditions is a complex and difficult engineering task, requiring modification of almost all module components.
Need
The Solar Panels for the Australian Environment project by the ANU recognises that Photovoltaic (PV) modules are not optimised to operate in Australia. Significant improvements in energy yield and module failure rates can be made over installations’ lifetimes by tailoring module designs for Australia’s unique and demanding conditions.
Australian conditions are in many ways ideal for photovoltaics, with high exposure to energy from the sun and sites with low rainfall and cloud cover. However these conditions are also incredibly harsh with high UV and high temperatures presenting unique design challenges.
Project innovation
Designing a PV module for Australian conditions is a complex and difficult engineering task, requiring modification of almost all module components.
ANU and Tindo Solar are developing a new product named PV-MATE to optimise photovoltaic module designs and maximise energy production, while improving durability under Australia’s demanding environmental conditions.
PV-MATE will be an optimised design which incorporates UV-proofing with enhanced heat shedding.
Learn more
Report: PV-Mate Photovoltaic Modules for the Australian Environment
PV-MATE aimed to design PV modules to maximise their effectiveness in Australia, proving modules tailored specifically for Australian conditions, so that the yield is maximised and the modules survive the harsh conditions in the Australian environment.
Reports: Solar Panels for the Australian Environment Lessons Learnt
Project reports from designing a PV module for Australian conditions.
Media Release: ARENA Supporting Bright Ideas in Solar R&D
The Australian Government today announced $21.5 million funding for 12 cutting edge R&D projects that will keep Australia at the forefront of solar research.
Benefit
The improved design will lead to:
- greater cost effectiveness of PV in Australia
- a better understanding of PV module degradation in Australian conditions
- more competitiveness for locally manufactured PV modules.
