Performance prediction of concentrator solar cells and modules from dark<i>I–V</i>characteristics

Abstract

Abstract The indoor performance of concentrator solar cells and modules at operating conditions is a complex task, owing to the required illumination and temperature conditions, and even more so during extensive procedures, such as on a production line. The solution proposed throughout this paper consists of predicting the illumination I–V characteristic of the solar cells, with the dark I–V curve and the photogenerated current as the only input data. As well as this, the technology‐dependent components of the series resistance are obtained from the dark characteristics for quality control. Theory and experiments on several types of concentrator cell have been carried out to validate the method. The equipment to be used on a production line has been developed by IES and used by BP Solar to test up to 25 000 cells and 2000 modules for the 480 kW p power plant using the EUCLIDES TM concentrator. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.