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Review of the field performance of one cadmium telluride module
Author(s) -
del Cueto J. A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-159x(199811/12)6:6<433::aid-pip236>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - solstice , irradiance , cadmium telluride photovoltaics , equivalent series resistance , voltage , environmental science , materials science , solar irradiance , optoelectronics , optics , temperature coefficient , atmospheric sciences , physics , engineering physics , meteorology , electrical engineering , engineering , composite material , astronomy , latitude
Performance data gathered in situ from a large‐area cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin‐film photovoltaic (PV) module that has been deployed outdoors since February 1995 are investigated. It appears that the module's performance has been stable over the last 2 years but it exhibits a semi‐cyclical variation whereby the efficiency appears to peak between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice. Analyses are performed that dissect module current–voltage parameters by irradiance and examine their dependence on temperature. The temperature coefficient of the efficiency is quite small and negative from 80% of 1‐sun intensity and upwards. Its meager value is the outcome of the sizes and opposite signs of the temperature coefficients of the open‐circuit voltage and fill factor. Average module series resistance is quantified and shown to be a determinant in power loss of 11% at 1‐sun intensity. It is demonstrated to constrain the fill factor at illumination intensities above 60% of 1‐sun, which occurs in the same range of illumination intensities that the temperature coefficients of the fill factor exhibit positive values. Evidence is presented that points to some spectrally‐induced variations in the efficiency. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This paper was produced under the auspices of the US Government and it is therefore not subject to copyright in the USA