Impact of measured spectrum variation on solar photovoltaic efficiencies worldwide. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kinsey, Geoffrey S.; Riedel-Lyngskær, Nicholas C.; Miguel, Alonso-Abella; Boyd, Matthew; Braga, Marília; Shou, Chunhui; Cordero, Raul R.; Duck, Benjamin C.; Fell, Christopher J.; Feron, Sarah; Georghiou, George E.; Habryl, Nicholas; John, Jim J.; Ketjoy, Nipon; López, Gabriel; Louwen, Atse; Maweza, Elijah Loyiso; Minemoto, Takashi; Mittal, Ankit; Molto, Cécile; Neves, Guilherme; Garrido, Gustavo Nofuentes; Norton, Matthew; Paudyal, Basant R.; Pereira, Enio Bueno; Poissant, Yves; Pratt, Lawrence; Shen, Qu; Reindl, Thomas; Rennhofer, Marcus; Rodríguez-Gallegos, Carlos D.; Rüther, Ricardo; van Sark, Wilfried; Sevillano-Bendezú, Miguel A.; Seigneur, Hubert; Tejero, Jorge A.; Theristis, Marios; Töfflinger, Jan A.; Ulbrich, Carolin; Vilela, Waldeir Amaral; Xia, Xiangao; Yamasoe, Márcia A.;
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 196(2022)
• Page Start: 995
• Page End: 1016
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Photovoltaics -- Energy yield -- Spectral irradiance -- Forecasting; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.07.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: In photovoltaic power ratings, a single solar spectrum, AM1.5, is the de facto standard for record laboratory efficiencies, commercial module specifications, and performance ratios of solar power plants. More detailed energy analysis that accounts for local spectral irradiance, along with temperature and broadband irradiance, reduces forecast errors to expand the grid utility of solar energy. Here, ground-level measurements of spectral irradiance collected worldwide have been pooled to provide a sampling of geographic, seasonal, and diurnal variation. Applied to nine solar cell types, the resulting divergence in solar cell efficiencies illustrates that a single spectrum is insufficient for comparisons of cells with different spectral responses. Cells with two or more junctions tend to have efficiencies below that under the standard spectrum. Silicon exhibits the least spectral sensitivity: relative weekly site variation ranges from 1% in Lima, Peru to 14% in Edmonton, Canada. Graphical abstract: Image 1