Research Article

Assessment of large-area luminescent solar concentrators as building-integrated geodesic dome panels

¹ Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
² Department of Geology, School of Natural Science, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

^* e-mail: schandra@tcd.ie

Received: 30 March 2023
Accepted: 18 August 2023

Abstract

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) ability to concentrate both direct and diffuse solar irradiation exhibits exciting potential as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) in urban environments. As BIPV elements, LSCs are often imagined as semi-transparent solar windows which can be integrated seamlessly into a building's façade and architectural applications as solar harvesting devices. One application explored in this research is a solar geodesic dome panel for an ongoing community greenhouse development in Derry, N-Ireland. A 4V and 2 m diameter geodesic dome were modelled in Revit, and an Insight Solar Analysis model optimised the LSC-geodesic dome and calculated the solar potential. The triangular LSC panel of 875 cm² was modelled using raytracing software to obtain efficiency parameters. Subsequently, fabricated using a luminescent acrylic 6T66 waveguide, edge-mounted silicon solar cells and tested outdoors for 29 h. A power conversion efficiency of 0.60% compared to theoretical power conversion efficiency of 1.49% was measured. In the optimum location of the dome, the LSC panel would produce 444.22 Wh and, overall, 74.2 kWh in a year. While this power generation is essential, semi-transparent LSC-geodesic dome panel transmission can downshift solar radiation in the photosynthetically active radiation range, better suited for plant growth and the greenhouse effect.