AQ Malik, Chong Chew Hah, Chan Siang Khwang, Lim Chee Ming, Tan Kha Sheng

The evaluation and assessment of the performance of photovoltaic (PV) cells in terms of measurable parameters requires the measurement of the current as a function of voltage, temperature, intensity, wind speed and spectrum. Most noticeable of all these parameters is the PV conversion efficiency η, defined as the maximum electrical power P_max produced by the PV cell divided by the incident photon power P_in which is measured with respect to standard test conditions (STC). These conditions refer to the spectrum (AM 1.5), solar radiation intensity (1000 Wm^-2), cell temperature (25 ± 2°C) and wind speed (2 mph). Tests under STC are carried out in the laboratory at a controlled environment. There have been several studies that analyze uncertainties in the laboratory measurement of solar cell efficiencies using different solar simulators and their transference to operational situations. Our preliminary results demonstrate that the short circuit current (I_SC) of the solar cell decreases when irradiance is less than 1000 Wm^-2 irrespective of the working temperature of the cell.

Keywords: Outdoor testing of solar cells by I-V and P-V; Photovoltaics, Multicrystalline

AJSTD Vol.23(1&2) pp.97-106 (2006)