Estimation of the lifetime of solar cells in real conditions using accelerated aging under the influence of neutron and gamma radiation

Abstract

In the paper, in a long-term test procedure, monocrystalline silicon cells were subjected to examination. Cells were tested in well-controlled laboratory conditions and real conditions. In laboratory conditions, white light of the artificial sun and monochromatic brightness of yellow sodium lamps were used. The testing was aimed at achieving the same aging regime in the laboratory conditions as in real conditions. This would allow for the laboratory aging algorithm of solar cells as in real conditions, to be defined, hence their working life of commercial exploitation in urban areas to be determined. By complex mathematical methods, i. e. using the theory of time duration, it was found that laboratory exposing solar cells to thermal neutrons causes their aging with the same mechanism as in real conditions.