Abstract
In order to make accurate measurements, sun simulators used for solar cell characterisation need to be calibrated with standard solar cells. These so-called secondary working standards are derived from primary reference cells and are used for every cell measurement.To generate primary reference cells, balloon calibration campaigns are a good compromise between accuracy, flight opportunity and cost.CNES calibrates primary standards with stratospheric balloon flights since 1976. Safety rules limited the flight opportunities, so it was not possible to propose the calibration service since 2005.A new balloon facility is developed in CNES with the help of ESA in order to calibrate space solar cells with high accuracy. The first flight is planned in April 2017 in Alice Springs, Australia.
Highlights
The methods for AM0 calibration of solar cells fall into two broad categories; extraterrestrial and synthetic
Extraterrestrial methods attempt to measure the solar cell near the AM0 condition by measuring cells at high altitude or in space
High altitude balloons have long been recognized as the industry standard of extraterrestrial, AM0 solar cell calibration [1]
Summary
The methods for AM0 calibration of solar cells fall into two broad categories; extraterrestrial and synthetic. Extraterrestrial methods attempt to measure the solar cell near the AM0 condition by measuring cells at high altitude (low air mass) or in space. Examples of this method include high altitude airplane, International Space Station and high altitude balloon. A recent study performed by ESA in collaboration with AZUR SPACE, Fraunhofer ISE and PTB (PhysikalischTechnische Bundesanstalt – German national metrological institute) demonstrated that both methods synthetic method used by PTB and CNES balloon were in perfect agreement within the measurement uncertainties claimed ( 1%), at least for the top and the middle cell results. Synthetic methods rely on the knowledge of the AM0 spectrum. CNES, upon ESA request, decided to reinitiate a balloon calibration capability by developing a complete new payload to be launched on a new nacelle
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