ABSTRACT
In this chapter, a brief overview is given of photovoltaic (PV) materials, PV cells, and PV modules as well as several standard indicators that are common for addressing the performance of PV applications. Subsequently, the design features of six commercially available PV technologies are discussed to be able to create different types of designs with these PV technologies in the context of applications in products, buildings, and vehicles. The design features that are discussed are: (1) coloring, (2) transparency, (3) flexibility, (4) sizing, (5) two-dimensional design, and (6) three-dimensional design. On the basis of a comparison of these design features, the conclusion is drawn that out of the six technologies discussed, silicon-based PV cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, and luminescent solar concentrator PVs provide the best opportunities for product integration. In conclusion, the possible effects of indoor irradiance on the performance of solar cells is briefly discussed because several PV-powered products have been designed for indoor use while indoor irradiance (which consists of a mixture of natural and artificial light) has a different composition than outdoor irradiance from the sun.
