Browsing by Author "Isherwood, Patrick"

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    Accessible Solar Energy Technology for Domestic Applications in the UK: Edge Solar
    (Cambridge University Press, 2023-06-19) Heaton, Alex; Sung, Kyungeun; Isherwood, Patrick
    Renewable energy is increasingly used and promoted. In the UK, for example, large scale renewable energy farms have been used to supply electricity with great effect. Given the large number of homes, there is considerable impact to be made by small scale residential renewable energy systems. Despite solar panels being the most common form of residential renewable energy technology, only 4% of buildings in the UK support solar technology of any kind. For direct electricity generation, silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) arrays are the most utilised, and when used in a residential setting, they are typically mounted on the sloped roofs. This is where the problem lies. The technology comes with a high cost, and there is further financial burden of installation and maintenance, making solar energy inaccessible for many UK homeowners. This paper presents a research and design innovation project to make PV technology more accessible in the UK. Edge Solar, the innovative, affordable, new PV system concept for UK homes may become a promising solution to significantly improve the accessibility to the PV technology and renewable energy at the household level in the UK and beyond with further development and commercialisation.
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    Upcycling of silicon solar cells: What are the options?
    (Springer, 2021-07-15) Isherwood, Patrick; Sung, Kyungeun
    Solar power is widely recognised as a key clean energy technology which can help to replace the global reliance on fossil fuel energy sources. The rate at which photovoltaics are being deployed globally has increased approximately exponentially in recent years, with the vast majority of these devices being made from silicon. Whilst the number of solar modules reaching their end-of-life is relatively modest at present, it is rising and will increase significantly over the coming decade. As the number of silicon modules reaching their end-of-life rises, the issue of reutilisation of these cells has gained attention from scientists, governments and industry. Considering the cost of production, high embedded energy, potential significant volume of waste and scarcity of resource of certain cell parts, end-of-life silicon cells should be upcycled where possible. This chapter explores different options for upcycling (more specifically advanced or improved forms of recycling and reuse) of silicon solar cells at their end-of-life with the ultimate goal of contributing to reducing their post-use negative environmental impact whilst simultaneously benefiting the economy. This work discusses a range of theoretical options for successful upcycling of silicon devices through a review of the literature.