Performance Measurements of CIS Modules: Outdoor and Pulsed Simulator Comparison for Power and Energy Rating

Kenny, Robert P.; Nikolaeva-Dimitrova, M.; Dunlop, Ewan D.

doi:10.1109/wcpec.2006.279907

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The crystalline modules are therefore stable for the purpose of comparing measurements possibly taken over the medium term from different measurement systems. However, it is well known that thin film modules typically demonstrate instabilities and performance changes depending on their history of exposure to light and temperature fluctuations [15][16][17]. This can make comparison of the results measured at different times in Power rating of photovoltaic modules to implement IEC 61853-1 R. P. Kenny et al…”

Section: Test Modules and Reference Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Power rating of photovoltaic modules including validation of procedures to implement IEC 61853‐1 on solar simulators and under natural sunlight

Kenny

Viganó

Salis

et al. 2013

Progress in Photovoltaics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper describes the measurement of photovoltaic module performance over a range of temperatures and irradiances according to the international standard IEC 61853 Part 1. The purpose of this work is to assess the reproducibility of power matrix measurements obtained using two methods specified in the standard: under natural sunlight with a tracker, and with a solar simulator. A comparison of results using the third principal method (under natural sunlight without tracker) is also summarised for completeness. The same measurement techniques have been employed to measure four modules of different technologies, namely mono and poly crystalline Si, CdTe and CIS. The method used to vary the irradiance in the natural sunlight with tracker and solar simulator approaches is based on un-calibrated mesh filters. The uniformity and effect on spectrum of the mesh filters have been studied, and the impact of these on the measurements estimated. Measurements from all methods are compared over as much of the ranges as possible. The results show that for all modules, the reproducibility is within the estimated measurement uncertainty. The suitability of the different methods is discussed in light of the results and the limitations of the various methods as applied to different modules technologies. On the basis of the results, parts of IEC 61853 Part 1 will be introduced into the ISO 17025 laboratory accreditation at the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI).

show abstract

Section: Test Modules and Reference Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Power rating of photovoltaic modules including validation of procedures to implement IEC 61853‐1 on solar simulators and under natural sunlight

Kenny

Viganó

Salis

et al. 2013

Progress in Photovoltaics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Material related effects are mainly due to LS 6, 14, 15 and can significantly influence the performance of TF devices at standard test conditions (STC) depending on their recent history (exposure to light or storage in the dark).…”

Section: Source Of Measurements Errorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As shown in Refs. 6, 14 some CIS devices are highly sensitive to LS effects, whereas others are less so. In some cases, even the exposure to light for fractions of second – what we call the pre‐measurement state 6 – can alter a device's response.…”

Section: Source Of Measurements Errorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of indoor and outdoor performance measurements of recent commercially available solar modules

Virtuani

Müllejans

Dunlop

2010

Progress in Photovoltaics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The strong growth of the PV market is accompanied by an increasing number of ''new'' PV technologies and concepts now mature for commercialization. A correct calibration of these devices is in some cases very difficult, because indoor and outdoor performance measurements often lead to different results. In this paper we compare the indoor and outdoor performance measurements of a set of recent commercially available PV modules (conventional and high-efficiency c-Si, single-, double-, and triple-junction thin film (TF) technologies) and we observe that the maximum power P max of some devices measured indoors using our large area pulsed solar simulator is usually lower than the power measured outdoors under natural sunlight. The major effects which lead to these discrepancies are identified, as follows: (a) spectral mismatch errors, very significant for CdTe, and all a-Si TF technologies; (b) measurement-related sweep-time effects, which seem to strongly influence the performance of high efficiency c-Si devices and to a lesser extend of all a-Si TF technologies; and (c) short-time light-soaking effects, which influence the performance of CIS and to a lesser extent CdTe.

show abstract

“…Copper–indium sulfide (CIS) and copper–indium–gallium selenide (CIGS) modules are also subject to light‐induced change of the module efficiency . Research on these module technologies has shown that they may degrade with light exposure, but in some cases, it has been shown that they remain stable or improve . The behaviour is, in general, very dependent on the deposition and exact material composition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The behaviour is, in general, very dependent on the deposition and exact material composition. In general, these modules exhibit a short‐term meta‐stable behaviour modulated by light, and for this reason, they have to be measured quickly following light exposure .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preconditioning of thin-film PV module technologies for calibration

Kenny

Chatzipanagi

Sample

2012

Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Thin-film module technologies are known for their metastability, and a study of this behaviour for different types of thin-film modules is presented. The modules investigated through a series of controlled light-soaking procedures are copper-indium sulfide (CIS), copper-indium-gallium diselenide (CIGS), cadmium telluride (CdTe), triple-junction amorphous silicon (a-Si), micromorph silicon (a-Si/m-Si) and thin-film crystalline silicon (CSG). The objective of the paper is to investigate whether after the stabilization point, as defined in the international qualification standard IEC 61646, there is any further significant change in the maximum power of the module. It was found that all CIS and CIGS modules investigated in this study stabilize according to IEC 61646, and no further significant change in maximum power is observed. The same result was obtained also for the CSG module. To the contrary, CdTe, triple-junction a-Si and a-Si/m-Si modules continued to show further change in maximum power even after they stabilize according to IEC 61646. For the purposes of module qualification, given the need to stay 'within reasonable constraints of cost and time', the stability procedure of IEC 61646 could be considered as satisfactory. However, in order to perform sufficient preconditioning of thin-film modules prior to precision calibration, a new more complete standard procedure is needed, tailored to the specific technology. For example, tighter stability limits lower than the current 2%, which would have the effect of increasing the number of light-soaking periods required.

show abstract

Performance Measurements of CIS Modules: Outdoor and Pulsed Simulator Comparison for Power and Energy Rating

Cited by 11 publications

References 3 publications

Power rating of photovoltaic modules including validation of procedures to implement IEC 61853‐1 on solar simulators and under natural sunlight

Power rating of photovoltaic modules including validation of procedures to implement IEC 61853‐1 on solar simulators and under natural sunlight

Comparison of indoor and outdoor performance measurements of recent commercially available solar modules

Preconditioning of thin-film PV module technologies for calibration

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About