Analytic modelling of multi-junction solar cells via multi-diodes

Christian Stefano Schuster, Mehmet Koc and Selcuk Yerci

Renewable Energy, 2022, vol. 184, issue C, 1033-1042

Abstract: Laboratory efficiencies and estimated costs alone cannot assess the extent to which photovoltaics (PV) is expanding. For outdoor operation, PV technologies also need realistic yet effective methods of yield evaluation. Here, we propose an analytical approach for calculating the power output of series, parallel, and independently connected multi-junction solar cells. It uses a fast search algorithm for the maximum power point - suitable for data-driven tasks. Our approach enables us to model the sub-cells of a GaInP/GaAs/Si device, analyze its harvesting efficiency under bandgap variations, and compare tandem cell performances under different climatic conditions. Using historical, reconstructed solar spectra from 2004 to 2018 at 60 s intervals, we show the optimum tandem cell to be independent of the end user's location. We also show that independently connected junctions allow maximum flexibility in combining different materials. As such, they offer the greatest prospect of achieving harvesting efficiencies of over 40%. This study paves the way for a simpler and faster assessment of multi-junction solar cells and their performance potentials.

Keywords: Photovoltaics; Circuit model; Photovoltaic modelling; Silicon solar cell; Multi-junction solar cells; Efficiency limits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:184:y:2022:i:c:p:1033-1042

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.11.018

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