Photo-Piezoelectric Composite Materials for Multi-Source Energy Conversion

Photovoltaics, solar thermal collectors and wind turbines are well established renewable energy technologies. Hybrid sustainable energy technologies are able to harness power from more than one source (solar, wind, wave), and so provide improved continuity of supply. This project investigates the potential of photo-piezoelectric composite materials for multi-source energy conversion from combined solar/wind or solar/wave sources. Thin film photovoltaic material is deposited onto piezoelectric polymer sheets to form the composite material. Laboratory testing has been carried out for polarised PVDF and PVDZ. Theoretical analysis has also been carried out to predict the behaviour of the composite material under a range of conditions.