A 'high-efficiency solar LED display module' that can be used for solar power generation during the day and as an LED display at night has been developed.
Professor Shin Dong-yoon's research team at Pukyong National University and Principal Researcher Kang Ki-hwan's team at the Korea Institute of Energy Research's Solar Energy Research Division recently conducted joint research to develop a new solar-display fusion technology.
The joint research team succeeded in fusing solar modules and LED display modules while drastically reducing the decrease in the solar module's electricity generation efficiency to 3%.
When the newly developed module is installed on building exteriors, it is expected to be used not only for electricity generation like conventional solar modules but also for media playback functions.
Image of a building-integrated solar module with a grid-type LED display module capable of advertising and video playback.
Existing LED display modules excessively block sunlight reaching the solar modules, reducing the solar module's electricity generation efficiency by as much as 23%, which limited the fusion of the two modules. Additionally, the lifespan of LED displays is shorter than that of solar modules, causing the problem of having to replace the solar module together when a failure occurs.
The research team solved these problems by applying a grid structure. LEDs were installed at the intersections of the grid, and sunlight was allowed to reach the solar module through the empty spaces of the grid without interference, resulting in a detachable solar LED display module.
Applying the grid structure causes another problem where electricity generation efficiency decreases due to grid shadows when sunlight strikes the module obliquely depending on the solar altitude. However, the research team solved this issue by installing reflectors on the grid structure walls to reflect sunlight back onto the solar module.
Simulation results from installing this module on a building in Seoul showed that the electricity generated during the day could operate the LED display module for up to 22 hours at night.
The research team published their findings in the international journal Applied Energy (IF: 11.2) under the title “Grid-type LED media facade with reflective walls for building-integrated photovoltaics with virtually no shading loss” and recently completed patent registration for the research outcomes.
Professor Shin Dong-yoon stated, “The module technology developed through this research is expected to greatly help maintain technological competitiveness not only in Korea's solar power industry but also in related industries such as display and construction.”
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