Spatial and spectral non-uniform irradiance distribution effects on multijunction solar cells

M. Victoria; R. Herrero; C. Domínguez; I. Antón; S. Askins; G. Sala

doi:10.1117/12.905788

8 September 2011 Spatial and spectral non-uniform irradiance distribution effects on multijunction solar cells

M. Victoria, R. Herrero, C. Domínguez, I. Antón, S. Askins, G. Sala

Proceedings Volume 8007, Photonics North 2011; 800724 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.905788
Event: Photonics North 2011, 2011, Ottawa, Canada

Abstract

When refractive optical systems are used to concentrate light onto high efficiency solar cells chromatic aberration creates irradiance distributions over the cells which are neither spatially nor spectrally uniform. Multijunction solar cells are the photovoltaic device with the highest conversion efficiency. However, their efficiency under a concentration system can be significantly lower than the measured efficiency under uniform irradiance and reference conditions. In this paper the irradiance distribution created by a Fresnel lens is studied by ray-tracing simulations and it is characterized using a CCD camera and adequate filters. The effects of the non uniform irradiance distribution on the solar cell performance are analyzed by measuring the IV curve of an elementary unit of the system when illuminated by a solar simulator. IV curves for different lens to cell distances are measured and compared to allow a better understanding of the system.

Citation Download Citation

M. Victoria, R. Herrero, C. Domínguez, I. Antón, S. Askins, and G. Sala "Spatial and spectral non-uniform irradiance distribution effects on multijunction solar cells", Proc. SPIE 8007, Photonics North 2011, 800724 (8 September 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.905788

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