A simplified methodology for estimating solar spectral influence on photovoltaic energy yield using average photon energy

Nowadays, investors, customers, and even suppliers focus on the bankability of photovoltaic (PV) technologies. However, few studies have investigated the annual net effect of solar spectrum. In this study, we estimate the net effect of the solar spectrum on the annual energy yield of c-Si and a-Si modules by two parameters. One parameter is a direct calculation from spectral factor (SF). The other parameter uses average photon energy (APE) and a regression line or curve. The estimations by the two parameters are quite consistent, whereas there is 1.2% difference between the estimations at most. Therefore, APE would be a useful index to quantify the effect of the solar spectrum.

[1]  Changes in Spectral Response with Temperature and Irradiance Intensity , 2004 .

[2]  Harald Müllejans,et al.  Performance of Thin Film PV Modules , 2006 .

[3]  Thomas R. Betts,et al.  Modelling long-term module performance based on realistic reporting conditions with consideration to spectral effects , 2003, 3rd World Conference onPhotovoltaic Energy Conversion, 2003. Proceedings of.

[4]  F. Chenlo,et al.  Experimental solar spectral irradiance until 2500 nm: results and influence on the PV conversion of different materials , 2007 .

[5]  Voltage-dependent quantum efficiency measurements of amorphous silicon multi-junction mini-modules , 2011 .

[6]  Takashi Minemoto,et al.  Impact of spectral irradiance distribution and temperature on the outdoor performance of amorphous Si photovoltaic modules , 2007 .

[7]  Alessandro Virtuani,et al.  A detailed analysis of gains and losses of a fully-integrated flat roof amorphous silicon photovoltaic plant , 2011 .

[8]  Thomas R. Betts,et al.  Effects of spectrum on the power rating of amorphous silicon photovoltaic devices , 2011 .

[9]  Thomas R. Betts,et al.  A critical appraisal of the factors affecting energy production from amorphous silicon photovoltaic arrays in a maritime climate , 2004 .

[10]  Y. Hirata,et al.  Output variation of photovoltaic modules with environmental factors—I. The effect of spectral solar radiation on photovoltaic module output , 1995 .

[11]  Kenji Otani,et al.  Effects of solar spectrum and module temperature on outdoor performance of photovoltaic modules in round‐robin measurements in Japan , 2011 .

[12]  Alessandro Virtuani,et al.  Energy Yield Prediction of Amorphous Silicon PV Modules Using Full Time Data Series of Irradiance and Temperature for Different Geographical Locations , 2011 .

[13]  Alessandro Virtuani,et al.  Seasonal power fluctuations of amorphous silicon thin‐film solar modules: distinguishing between different contributions , 2014 .

[14]  M. J. Kearney,et al.  Experimental study of variations of the solar spectrum of relevance to thin film solar cells , 2003 .

[15]  Kosuke Kurokawa,et al.  Investigation to estimate the short circuit current by applying the solar spectrum , 2008 .

[16]  Keith Emery,et al.  Spectral effects on PV-device rating , 1992 .

[17]  Ricardo Rüther,et al.  Seasonal Variations in Amorphous Silicon Solar Module Outputs and Thin Film Characteristics , 1995 .

[18]  Christian A. Gueymard,et al.  Daily spectral effects on concentrating PV solar cells as affected by realistic aerosol optical depth and other atmospheric conditions , 2009, Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy.

[19]  Kenji Yamamoto,et al.  Effect of spectral irradiance distribution on the outdoor performance of amorphous Si//thin-film crystalline Si stacked photovoltaic modules , 2007 .

[20]  R. Gottschalg,et al.  Impact of spectral effects on the electrical parameters of multijunction amorphous silicon cells , 2003, 3rd World Conference onPhotovoltaic Energy Conversion, 2003. Proceedings of.

[21]  Kenji Yamamoto,et al.  Spectral Effects of a Single-Junction Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell on Outdoor Performance , 2004 .

[22]  C. Gueymard.  Parameterized transmittance model for direct beam and circumsolar spectral irradiance , 2001 .

[23]  Cristina Cornaro,et al.  Influence of Average Photon Energy index on solar irradiance characteristics and outdoor performance of photovoltaic modules , 2012 .

[24]  K. Otani,et al.  A Methodology for Estimating the Effect of Solar Spectrum on Photovoltaic Module Performance by Using Average Photon Energy and a Water Absorption Band , 2012 .

[25]  K. Otani,et al.  Solar spectral influence on the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules under fine weather and cloudy weather conditions , 2011 .

[26]  E. Dunlop,et al.  Spectral mismatch in calibration of photovoltaic reference devices by global sunlight method , 2005 .

[27]  H. R. Wilson,et al.  Energetic relevance of solar spectral variation on solar cell short circuit current , 1989 .