On-Sun Comparison of GaInP2/GaAs Tandem Cells with Top-Cell Thickness Varied

Conference · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2005

OSTI ID:860697

McMahon, W E; Emery, K A; Friedman, D J; Ottoson, L; Young, M S; Ward, J S; Kramer, C M; Duda, A; Kurtz, S

This study compares the on-sun performance of a set of GaInP2/GaAs tandem cells with different GaInP2 top-cell thicknesses. Because high-efficiency III-V cells are best suited to concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) applications, the cells were mounted on a two-axis tracker with the incident sunlight collimated to exclude all except the direct beam. Current-voltage (I-V) curves were taken throughout the course of several days, along with the direct solar spectrum. Our two major conclusions are: (1) GaInP2/GaAs tandem cells designed for an ''air mass 1.5 global'' (AM 1.5G) or a ''low aerosol optical depth'' (Low AOD) spectrum perform the best, and (2) a simple device model using the measured direct spectra as an input gives the same result. These results are equally valid for GaInP2/GaAs/Ge triple-junction cells.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• OSTI ID: 860697
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-520-37022
• Conference Information: Presented at the 2004 DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Review Meeting, 25-28 October 2004, Denver, Colorado. Also included in the proceedings available on CD-ROM (DOE/GO-102005-2067; NREL/CD-520-37140)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AEROSOLS
AIR
AIR MASS 1.5 GLOBAL (AM 1.5G)
CURRENT-VOLTAGE (I-V)
DEVICE MODEL
HIGH-EFFICIENCY III-V
LOW AEROSOL OPTICAL DEPTH (LOW AOD)
ON-SUN
PERFORMANCE
PV
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR ENERGY
Solar Energy - Photovoltaics
SPECTRA
TANDEM CELLS
THICKNESS
TOP-CELL THICKNESS
TRIPLE-JUNCTION
TWO-AXIS TRACKER