AIT

Steady-state solar simulator ©AIT/S. Menegaldo

AIT at a glance

The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology takes a leading position in the Austrian innovation system and a key role in Europe as the RTO focusing on the key infrastructure topics of the future. AIT provides research and technology development to realize basic innovations for the next generation of infrastructure-related technologies in the fields of Energy, Low-Emission Transport, Health & Bioresources, Digital Safety & Security, Vision, Automation & Control and Technology Experience. These technological research areas are supplemented by the competence in the area of Innovation Systems & Policy. As a national and international network node at the interface of science and industry, AIT enables innovation through its scientific-technological expertise, market experience, tight customer relationships and high-quality research infrastructure.

The Competence Unit Energy Conversion & Hydrogen (ECH) is embedded in AIT’s Center for Energy. AIT’s Center for Energy offers scientific support in R&D, as well as certified standard testing in the fields of renewable energy and hydrogen. Amongst others, the Center for Energy operates a fully-fledged Photovoltaic Module Test Laboratory, accredited according to EN 17025, for testing of all types of modules (IEC/EN 61215-1 and 61730 series). Further, the competences of AIT extend to thin-film and nanotechnology, from fabrication to characterization and evaluation of components and devices. AIT is member of several international organizations and bodies, as the IEA power-system program IEA PVPS Tasks 1, 13, 14, 15, IEA SHC Annex 53, standardization committees like IEC TC 82, IECEE CB, EERA-PV of the EC, Solar Power Europe and the photovoltaics national technology platform.

In terms of Perovskite PV technology, ECH focuses on the development of transparent electrodes, electron- and hole- transport layers, as well barrier/window layers based on sustainable and abundant materials, as well as on the development of advanced characterization methods and harmonized/ standardized test protocols for perovskite and perovskite-based tandem solar cells/ modules

Main role and tasks in the project

Work Package Leader (WP4-NA1: Harmonization and path towards standardization)

AIT scientists and research engineers will contribute and exchange their extensive knowledge in the field of perovskite PV. In particular:

• Lead the activities on harmonization and the path towards standardization with the objective to harmonize procedures and test protocols according to best practices and beyond state-of-the-art knowledge. This includes:
  • Definition of guidelines for harmonized procedures to facilitate and simplify transnational and virtual access to all the VIPERLAB infrastructures. These guidelines will deal with IPR- and publication procedures, data formats and measurement procedures for similar infrastructures.
  • Harmonization of test protocols for perovskite PV technology development across the whole value chain. These protocols will deal among others with the requirements and adaptations of characterization and testing equipment, best practices for sample preparation and exchange, as well as on the assessment of performance, reliability and lifetime.
  • Networking activities with standardization committees, industry and external stakeholders. Dissemination of the harmonization/standardization outcomes from the project to IEC committees, i.e. EC TC 82 (WG2&WG8), IEC TC 113, and the ISOS organization.
• Exchange of personnel to foster collaboration and for optimization and harmonisation of procedures. This task aims to help people develop their knowledge, skills and careers by dedicated internal (personnel and students from Consortium partners) and external (RTOs and industry) exchange plans.
• Development of measurement protocols to unveil the main factors influencing the electrical response of perovskite devices (like preconditioning, hysteresis, quantum efficiency).
• Development of ageing protocols and lifetime prediction. Accelerated ageing using platforms with different climatic chambers and outdoor testing.
• Literature data mining for meta-studies on perovskite devices

Access to state-of-the-art characterization infrastructure for PV performance, aging and reliability of devices, as well as to thin-film deposition and materials characterization infrastructure, focusing on transparent electrodes, electron- and hole-transport layers or barrier layers

Links

AIT Web site