Energy Harvesting Efficiency of III–V Multi-Junction Concentrator Solar Cells under Realistic Spectral Conditions

Philipps, Simon P.; Peharz, Gerhard; Hoheisel, R.; Hornung, Andreas; Al-Abbadi, Naif; Dimroth, Frank; Bett, Andreas W.

doi:10.1063/1.3509215

Cited by 22 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…This can be achieved by employing an ideal-diode model for both the GaInP and GaAs sub-cells, with the model parameters given in Table 4, where the dark-current density, J 0 , has been defined using two different methods: the Shockley-Queisser detailed-balance limit, 11 as is common, 12,13 and by a semi-empirical state-of-the-art methodology, as proposed by Gray et al 50 Figure 18 shows a comparison of the optimal GaInP bandgap determined using ADEPT models and the simple ideal-diode model with dark-current found from detailed-balance and state-of-the-art assumptions.…”

Section: Comparison To Simple Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2,12,13 However, the results achieved in this way may only loosely correlate with actual cell performance because the specifics of the cell layer structure and recombination play a significant role in determining the optimal cell design. Detailed numerical models, which numerically solve Poisson's equation and hole and electron continuity assuming drift and diffusion based transport, are better tools for this sort of analysis as the specifics of cell structure can easily be incorporated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Design of a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell for maximum daily, monthly, and yearly energy output

et al. 2011

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Abstract. Solar concentrator cells are typically designed for maximum efficiency under the AM1.5d standard spectrum. While this methodology does allow for a direct comparison of cells produced by various laboratories, it does not guarantee maximum daily, monthly, or yearly energy production, as the relative distribution of spectral energy changes throughout the day and year. It has been suggested that achieving this goal requires designing under a nonstandard spectrum. In this work, a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell is designed for maximum energy production by optimizing for a set of geographically-dependent solar spectra using detailed numerical models. The optimization procedure focuses on finding the best combination of GaInP bandgap and GaInP and GaAs sub-cell absorber layer thicknesses. It is shown that optimizing for the AM1.5d standard spectrum produces nearly maximum yearly energy. This result simplifies the design of a dual-junction device considerably, is independent of the optical concentration up to at least 500 suns, and holds for a wide range of geographic locations. The simulation results are compared to those obtained using a more traditional, ideal-diode model.

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Section: Comparison To Simple Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell for maximum daily, monthly, and yearly energy output

et al. 2011

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“…This work has shown that, when considered over a full year, the balance of currents generated in each junction can affect the performance ratio (kWh/kWp) and, thereby, the final cost calculations of a PV installation. Similar studies, however, have found that cells optimized for the standard AM1.5 spectral distribution are suitable for most spectral conditions, with little benefit from further optimization [5], [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Field Investigation of the Effect of Spectral Response Upon Photovoltaic Energy Yields

Norton

Paraskeva

Kenny³

et al. 2016

IEEE J. Photovoltaics

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The operating efficiencies of multijunction photovoltaic (PV) cells are sensitive to changes in the spectral distribution of solar irradiance. Previous studies suggest that optimizing a cell's spectral response can improve energy yields. To examine how this affects their performance in the field, two sets of triple-junction photovoltaic cells with different spectral responses are being characterized side-by-side outdoors in Nicosia, Cyprus. High-resolution measurements of the solar spectrum are also being recorded at this location, allowing a detailed examination of the cell performances under varying spectral conditions. Using spectral matching ratios to analyze the data has indicated that daily changes in the fill factors of the cells can be attributed to their spectral responses. However, average performance ratios over the period of testing are similar for the two cell types. An in-depth analysis reveals that this is due to a combination of both the spectral responses and the spectral resource at the test site, where both cells operate close to their optimum. This indicates that customizing the spectral response of a cell may only be advantageous for applications under an extreme spectral resource distribution.Index Terms-Energy harvesting, energy measurement, III-V and concentrator photovoltaics, photovoltaic (PV) cells, solar energy, solar power generation.

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“…To locate the maximum power point (MPP), the derivative of the product of J and V is set to zero d (JV ) dV = J ph + J 0 − J 0 e eV/kT eV kT + 1 = 0 (6) or e x (x + 1) = J ph + J 0 J 0 ≈ J ph J 0…”

Section: B Efficiency Calculation Of Two-terminal and Separateterminmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As CPV marches to a more mature stage, the current mismatch problem under dynamic spectrum variation has obtained a lot of attention. Pertinent to this issue, simulation and experimental research has been deployed by research institutes and commercial companies, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory [4], the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy System [5], [6], Imperial College London [7], Amonix, Inc. [8], QuantaSol Ltd. [9], etc. These efforts have covered a wide scope, including the impact of meteorological variables on spectrum distribution and the resultant influence on CPV performance, experimental method that investigates the impact of spectrum variation on the output parameters of CPV modules, and tentative tuning of the solar cell bandgaps based on local spectrum variation characteristics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Spectrum Variation on the Energy Production of Triple-Junction Solar Cells

Wang¹,

Barnett

2012

IEEE J. Photovoltaics

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We analyze the energy production of a currentmatched, two-terminal triple-junction solar cell under different spectrum conditions. We compare this energy production with that of a separate-terminal three subcell system. Under real-spectrum conditions, the energy loss of the two-terminal system can be greater than 9% because of the current mismatch that frequently occurs in real meteorological conditions. The quantitative analysis of energy production between two-terminal and separate-terminal triple-junction solar cells opens up important opportunities in the design and optimization of concentration photovoltaic solar cells and modules.

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Energy Harvesting Efficiency of III–V Multi-Junction Concentrator Solar Cells under Realistic Spectral Conditions

Cited by 22 publications

References 0 publications

Design of a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell for maximum daily, monthly, and yearly energy output

Design of a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell for maximum daily, monthly, and yearly energy output

Field Investigation of the Effect of Spectral Response Upon Photovoltaic Energy Yields

The Effect of Spectrum Variation on the Energy Production of Triple-Junction Solar Cells

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