Photovoltaic Systems and Advanced Solar Cells

Photovoltaic

INTRODUCTION

Mankind is blessed equally with a ubiquitous energy source which is sun light. However, we need to harvest it in its most efficient form and that is electricity. Solar Photovoltaic technology enables us to convert sun’s energy directly into electricity by means of devices called solar cells. The Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) of UKM has been rigorously working to promote Solar Photovoltaic Technology in Southeast Asian region ever since its birth in 2005.  The “Photovoltaic Systems and Advanced Solar Cells” research group under the umbrella of SERI is a UKM-registered research group with 12 Principle Researchers, few associate fellows and over 50 Graduate (MSc and PhD) members.

We focus mainly on first generation crystalline Silicon based as well as thin films such as CIGS, CZTS, CdTe, Organics based solar cell materials and device/cell fabrication technology. We also transfer our developed knowledge into commercialization of products as well as concepts of cost efficient manufacturing technologies. The group has secured research funding from the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Cradle, Saudi Arabia National Research Fund, Qatar Foundation etc. Over 400 research articles in journals and proceedings have been published and members of the group delivered keynotes and plenary speeches at national and international conferences on renewable energy as well as photovoltaic energy technologies.

Moreover, members of the group have won several international awards for their academic contribution in solar energy. The group has a number of patents filed and few copyrights. A UKM-MTDC start-up company, SolarGE Sdn Bhd has been setup for commercialization of green technology products. With its best effort in the past, the group has been awarded The Best Research Group among 180 registered research groups of UKM for the last 3 consecutive years (2010, 2011 and 2012) and always maintained its position among others. People around us without access to electricity are always in our mind and that stimulates us to excel in our efforts. Nevertheless, we will work together with all toward accomplishing a Solar Green Earth with rigorous effort.

The group has installed solar lighting and pumping systems in the Mabul Island of Sabah in collaboration with the Coca-Cola Company and Islamic Aid as part of the community services activities. The group has industrial collaboration with Solartif Sdn Bhd developing a cottage industry for manufacturing of photovoltaic panels (PVCottageTM). Extensive research networking includes Tokyo Institute of Technology, University of South Florida, King Saud University, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) @ Qatar Foundation, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Nagaoka National College of Technology and Jadavpur University, India.

 

RESEARCH TEAM

  • Prof. Dr. Nowshad Amin, PhD (Tokyo Tech) – GROUP LEADER
  • Prof. Dato’ Dr. Kamaruzzaman Sopian, PhD (Miami)
  • Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Yusof Othman, PhD (Aston)
  • Prof. Dr. Mohamad Yusof Sulaiman, PhD (London)
  • Prof. Dr. Takhir Razykov, PhD (Ukraine) Doc Sc (Russia)
  • Prof. Dr. Saleem Zaidi, PhD (New Mexico)
  • Prof. Dr. Mohammad Alghoul, PhD (UPM)
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr.Md.Akhtaruzzaman, PhD (Japan)
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nilofar Asim, PhD (UKM)
  • Dr. Norasikin Ahmad Ludin, PhD (Wales)
  • Dr. Mohd Asri Mat Teridi, PhD (Loughborough)
  • Dr. Mohd Adib Ibrahim, PhD(Southampton)
  • Dr. Suhaila Sepeai, PhD (UKM)

 

AWARDS (selected)

  • Champion team of Malaysia and 1st Runner Up in East Asia zone Finals, “SolarCLEAN water filter”, Go Green in the City 2014 Competition, Schneider Electric. AprilØ2014, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
  • Bronze in Malaysian Technology Expo 2013 for the invention of “Solar Power Assisted Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for Rescue Operations”; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Bronze in Malaysian Technology Expo 2013 for the invention of “SolarGREEN – Portable Solar Charger for Versatile Usage”; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Gold for the invention of “PV CottageTM”, Seoul International Invention Fair 2012 (SIIF 2012), Korea Invention Promotion Association, Nov29-Dec 2, 2012, Seoul, KOREA.
  • Gold for the invention of “PV CottageTM”, Seoul International Invention Fair 2012 (SIIF 2012), Korea Invention Promotion Association, Nov 29-Dec 2, 2012, Seoul, KOREA
  • Silver, 23rdInternational, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2012); “SunFlower- GPS based ubiquitous dual axis solar tracker”; 17-19 May 2012, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Silver, 23rdInternational, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2012); “Greenfinity Solar Charger for Ubiquitous Applications”; 17-19 May 2012, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Best Research Group in 2011, “PV Systems & Advanced Solar Cell”, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)’s 7th Annual Innovation Award, 13 April 2012, Bangi, Malaysia.
  • 2nd Prize in Advanced Product Design, Autodesk Malaysia Design Competition (AMDC) 2011, “Transformasi Solar Golf Cart”, 14 February 2012; ShahAlam, Malaysia.
  • Silver Medal, PECIPTA 2011- International Exposition of Research and Inventions of institutions of Higher Learning 2011 (Ekspo Penyelidikan dan ciptaan institusi pengajian tinggi antarabangsa 2011); “GreenfinityTM Solar Charger”. 13-15 Sept. 2011; KL Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Silver, Pemacuan Kegemilangan Warisan Ilmu UKM, 3-5 May 2011, “Randomly Textured Nanoscale Surface for Silicon Solar Cells”. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia.
  • Silver, Malaysian Technology Expo 2011; “Hybrid Approach to Fabrication of Bifacial Silicon Solar Cell”. 17-19 February 2011; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Winner at DiGi Deep Green Challenge for Change, “Clean Tech Open Global Ideas Competition, Malaysia 2010”; for the product “Amphibi Solar Kit”, 4 Nov 2010.
  • Gold, 21stInternational, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2010); “eSighting: Integrated Safety Apparels with Green Mobile Solar Energy”, 14-16 May 2010, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Silver, 21stInternational, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2010); “Multifunction Solar Assisted Heat Pump System”; 14-16 May 2010, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Gold, Malaysian Technology Expo 2010; “Multipurpose Flexible Solar Cell”. 4-6 February 2010; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Gold and the best award, Malaysian Technology Expo 2010; “Back Contact Solar Cell for Shading-Screen Devices”. 4-6 February 2010; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • 1 Gold and 2 Silver Medals, ITEX 2009; “High Efficiency Silicon Solar Cell”, “PV powered Hovercraft” and “PV as Cottage Industry”. May 2009; Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Silver and Bronze Medals, Malaysian Technology Expo 2009; “PV Inverter” and “Intelligent Charge Controller for PV”. 19-21 Feb 2009; PWTC, Kuala Lumpur.
  • Gold Medal, ITEX 2008; “High Efficiency Silicon Solar Cell”. 10-12 May 2008; Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Awarded Visiting Scholar to Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology. “Study on High Efficiency Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells”. April 2008.
  • Gold Medal, Malaysian Technology Expo 2008; “High Performance Solar Cell with Advanced Texturing”. 21-23 Feb 2008; PWTC, Kuala Lumpur.
  • Bronze Medal, PECIPTA 2007- International Exposition of Research and Inventions of institutions of Higher Learning 2007 (Ekspo Penyelidikan dan ciptaan institusi pengajian tinggi antarabangsa 2007); “Cost Efficient Automated Sunlight Tracker for Higher Power Yield of the Large area Solar PV Power Station”. 10-12 Aug 2007; KL Convention Centre.