Systematic Operating Temperature Differences Between Al-BSF, PERC, and PERT-With-Optimized-Rear-Reflector Solar Mini-Modules Due to Rear Reflectance

Bryan, Jonathan; Silverman, Timothy; Deceglie, Michael; Mahaffey, Mason; Firth, Peter; Holman, Zachary

doi:10.1109/jphotov.2021.3127447

Title: Systematic Operating Temperature Differences Between Al-BSF, PERC, and PERT-With-Optimized-Rear-Reflector Solar Mini-Modules Due to Rear Reflectance

Journal Article · 12 December 2021 · IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/jphotov.2021.3127447 · OSTI ID:1841132

^[1];

^[2];

^[1]; Firth, Peter ^[3]; Holman, Zachary ^[3]

Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States); Swift Coat Inc., Tempe, AZ (United States)

Reflecting sub-bandgap light from photovoltaic modules has the potential to improve lifetime energy generation of fielded systems by reducing operating temperature. In this article, the temperature of fielded aluminum back-surface field (Al-BSF) and passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) mini-modules was monitored every 5 minutes for 75 days along with corresponding meteorological data. Additionally, passivated emitter rear totally diffused (PERT) mini-modules with high-performance sub-bandgap rear reflectors were tested and compared to the state-of-the-art industrial modules. These reflectors consisted of a >300-nm-thick silicon dioxide nanoparticle film with a low refractive index. The impact of reflectance on measured operating temperature was isolated with a previously developed thermal model and quantified as the reflectance-induced median temperature difference between each tested module at representative outdoor conditions (1000 W m^-2 , 25 degrees C ambient temperature, and 1.43 m s^-1 wind speed). We found that, because of their reflectance differences, PERC modules ran systematically cooler than Al-BSF modules by 1.0 degrees C, whereas the PERT-with-optimized-rear-reflector systematically operated 1.4 degrees C cooler than the Al-BSF module and 0.4 degrees C than the PERC module. We also found that the rear reflector provided the greatest temperature benefit during periods of highest irradiance.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1841132

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5K00-80814; MainId:78592; UUID:7dd69539-485d-4a2e-921c-e0a3af0e8c33; MainAdminID:63398

Journal Information:: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Journal Name: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 12; ISSN 2156-3381

Publisher:: IEEECopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Systematic Operating Temperature Differences Between Al-BSF, PERC, and PERT-With-Optimized-Rear-Reflector Solar Mini-Modules Due to Rear Reflectance

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