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Energy Yield Analysis of Multiterminal Si-Based Tandem Solar Cells

Journal Article · · IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
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Here, we present a model for a yield analysis of tandem devices consisting of Si bottom cells with III-V top cells. It accounts for the spectral properties of the subcells as well as their reduced operating temperature due to increased efficiency and luminescent coupling. Inputs are the experimental I-V and QE data of the subcells (e.g., available from laboratory prototypes) and the irradiance-dependent module temperature of the bottom cell. We apply the model to compare two types of tandem cells, GaInP and GaAs top cells on Si bottom cells. The impact of the temperature model, compared to a constant temperature, shows a relative change in energy yield of up to 2.7%rel. Including luminescent coupling for GaAs/Si devices with two terminals, increases the energy yield by 34.0%rel. This is still 34.2%rel less energy yielded than for GaInP/Si two-terminal devices. The performance of the GaInP/Si devices can be improved by 5.8%rel using three-terminal devices with back-contacted bottom cells instead of a two-terminal configuration under the assumption of a cell string with voltage matching of one top cell with two bottom cells. For GaInP/Si, the three-terminal device performs similarly to the four-terminal device, enabling the integration of monolithic tandem cells into modules at comparably high efficiencies.
Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1462474
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5J00-71161
Journal Information:
IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Journal Name: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 8; ISSN 2156-3381
Publisher:
IEEECopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Cited By (4)

Back‐contacted bottom cells with three terminals: Maximizing power extraction from current‐mismatched tandem cells
  • Rienäcker, Michael; Warren, Emily L.; Schnabel, Manuel
  • Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 27, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3107
journal January 2019
Three-terminal III–V/Si tandem solar cells enabled by a transparent conductive adhesive journal January 2020
Methodology of energy yield modelling of perovskite-based multi-junction photovoltaics journal January 2019
Methodology of energy yield modelling of perovskite-based multi-junction photovoltaics text January 2019

Figures / Tables (8)

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Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Si-based tandem solar cells
energy yield calculations
luminescent coupling