Solar cells in the test lab
Predicting the yield of solar cells under real conditions
In future, the expected yield of solar cells will no longer have to be estimated on the basis of their behavior under standard test conditions. Researchers at PTB can use a new method to adapt the test conditions to the real climate at the place of use.
Using a laser-based differential spectral response (DSR) method, comparative measurements under flexible test conditions are now possible at the solar cell measuring station of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). For example, the solar cell temperature (15 ° to 75 °C), the wavelength, the angle of incidence of the light or the irradiance (0 to 1100 W/m²) can be varied. In future, operators of solar cells will be able to have comparative measurements of different solar modules carried out in the test laboratory under conditions that are adapted to the real climatic conditions at the place of use.
The standard conditions for measuring the power output of a solar cell in the test laboratory are irradiation (with 1000 W/m²) with a standardized solar spectrum that corresponds to the spectral conditions at a sun angle of 48.19° ('Air Mass 1.5'). The junction of the solar cell is kept at 25 °C.
To simulate these conditions, the usual method (lamp-based differential spectral response) involved splitting the spectrum of a white light lamp with a monochromator and directing the individual spectral components with the required intensity onto the cell to be tested via an optical system. In this way, the desired spectrum is compiled according to 'Air Mass 1.5'. The standard intensity is achieved by overlaying this spectrum with high intensity white light. This procedure results in a relatively high measurement uncertainty for the measurement of the photocurrent, which is significantly reduced with the PTB scientists' laser-based variant - according to the PTB, the total measurement uncertainty is less than 0.4 percent. Record value.
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