Characterization of High Efficiency c-Si CPV Cells

Abstract

Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV) represents an emerging market at its early stage for terrestrial application with large growth expectation and considerable research activity on new cells production has been conducting recently. As response to a fast growing demand for traceable and independent measurements on CPV cells and system the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI) has started a research program on indoor/outdoor devices characterization. This paper focuses on the results of an intercomparison of procedures and experimental setup for concentrating c-Si cells characterization held at ESTI and at the UTTP FOTO Laboratory of ENEA. Current-voltage curves, short-circuit current and efficiency measurements have been performed at high intensities on three different set up: a recently developed 1500X pulsed solar simulator at ESTI and two modified solar simulators capable to achieve up to 250X concentration at ENEA. Reference c-Si cells equipped with neutral density filters of various optical densities have been used at ESTI for checking cells under test linearity at different concentration ratio. First results show the agreement within measurement uncertainties of the electrical parameters.