Spectral Solar Radiation Measurements and Models for CPV Module Production Estimation

The photocurrent produced by a multijunction III–V cell is limited by the component cell of the union which yields the lowest photocurrent. The induced energy losses are quantified by the Spectral Radiation Matching Factor (SRMF), defined as the ratio between the energy produced by a III–V multijunction cell and the energy that could be produced if the subcells were current matched at any moment. Accurate SRMF estimations generally require accurate measurement of solar spectrum. Another method is to measure the spectrum using three “isotype” cells, or single‐junction cells that have the same spectral response as each of the three component cells in the multi‐junction stack. That method is validated against photocurrents calculated from spectral measurements (by spectroradiometer) and broadband direct beam measurements (by pyrheliometer). Those comparisons show agreement in the results above 98% under clear‐sky conditions. The difference between the two independent SRMF calculations is within 1% margin. Th...