University of Stuttgart

About: University of Stuttgart is a education organization based out in Stuttgart, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Laser & Finite element method. The organization has 27715 authors who have published 56370 publications receiving 1363382 citations. The organization is also known as: Universität Stuttgart.

Crystalline Si thin-film solar cells: a review

Abstract: The present review summarizes the results of research efforts in the field of crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells on foreign substrates. The large number of competing approaches can be broadly classified according to the grain size of the crystalline Si films and the doping of the crystalline absorber. Currently, solar cells based on microcrystalline Si films on glass with an intrinsic or moderately doped absorber film achieve efficiencies around 10%, whereas thin-film cells fabricated from large-grained polycrystalline Si on high-temperature-resistant substrates have efficiencies in the range of 15%. The paper discusses the limitations of various approaches and describes recent developments in the area of thin, monocrystalline Si films that may open the way towards 20% efficient thin-film Si solar cells.

Compressed Air Energy Storage in an Electricity System With Significant Wind Power Generation

Abstract: In this paper, a stochastic electricity market model is applied to estimate the effects of significant wind power generation on system operation and on economic value of investments in compressed air energy storage (CAES). The model's principle is cost minimization by determining the system costs mainly as a function of available generation and transmission capacities, primary energy prices, plant characteristics, and electricity demand. To obtain appropriate estimates, notably reduced efficiencies at part load, start-up costs, and reserve power requirements are taken into account. The latter are endogenously modeled by applying a probabilistic method. The intermittency of wind is covered by a stochastic recombining tree and the system is considered to adapt on increasing wind integration over time by endogenous modeling of investments in selected thermal power plants and CAES. Results for a German case study indicate that CAES can be economic in the case of large-scale wind power deployment