Output evaluation of a world’s highest efficiency flat sub module with InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs inverted triple-junction solar cell under outdoor operation

Abstract

We discussed the outdoor operation of a fixed flat sub module with an InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs inverted metamorphic triple-junction solar cell (IMM module) for the first time in the world. The global solar spectrum distribution was assessed using the average photon energy (APE) and spectral matching ratio (SMR) indexes in this study. The conversion efficiency of the IMM module was more than 30% and was markedly affected by APE rather than by module temperature under real environmental conditions. markedly increased in the high APE region. In the case of APE of more than 1.60 eV, the photocurrent of the bottom subcell decreased owing to the blue-rich spectrum, which limited the short-circuit current. The absorption region of the bottom subcell overlapped with the water absorption region in the solar spectrum; therefore, environmental conditions such as water precipitation greatly affected the output of the current-matching inverted triple-junction solar cell.

Accurate Output Forecasting Method for Various Photovoltaic Modules Considering Incident Angle and Spectral Change Owing to Atmospheric Parameters and Cloud Conditions

“…In the case of the atmospheric parameters close to STC value, the PR was the highest value. However, PR decreased significantly in summer due to limit of the short-circuit current by bottom subcell photocurrent because of increasing precipitable water, which absorbed the long-wavelength range of the solar spectrum [37]. The PRs estimated by the MS2E method are quite close to the measurement value.…”

Measurement and Modeling of 3D Solar Irradiance for Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic

“…The atmospheric parameters that impact performance of high-efficiency solar cells are identified using a statistical approach [37] and also to concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) [38] that is recently considered as a right candidate [39], fine-tuning of the bandgap design for VIPV application based-on the model as mentioned above [40], prediction of the energy yield with consideration of the spectrum and angular issues [41], and the rating method of the VIPV with consideration of above issues [42]. The detailed information of the high-efficiency PV modules used for the validation of the model is found in the article by Ota [43]. The angular distribution model is also useful for this purpose, but it is essential to note that it is deeply coupled with the spectrum variation that is not covered by this article.…”

Measurement and Modeling of the 3-D Solar Irradiance for Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic

“…The angular distribution model is crucial both to the validation of the 3-D solar irradiance model around the car-body and optimization design of the high-performance static concentrator module on the car-roof [28][29][30][31][32][33]. In case that the high-efficiency multi-junction cells are used for VIPV, it is essential to consider the spectrum impact, correctly, the cross effect between spectrum and angular distribution of the solar irradiance [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]. The angular distribution model is also useful for this purpose.…”