Representative Atmospheric Parameters in Multijunction Solar Cell Design

Abstract

The representative spectrum selection approach is applied systematically to determine efficiency-maximizing multijunction solar cell (MJSC) bandgap combinations that also maximize energy yield (EY). The technique is performed using a complete, validated dataset of annual spectral irradiance measurements collected in Ottawa, Canada, and compared to the same calculation using simulated spectra with fixed representative atmospheric parameters. We confirm that representative atmospheric parameters exist, are identified with their median direct normal irradiance values, and show that they accurately predict maximized EYs at the MJSC design points. Representative spectra, for MJSCs of 2–8 junctions, are determined as a function of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and precipitable water (PW). Coefficients that describe the change in the EY and representative spectrum as a function of changing representative AOD and PW from one location to another are presented.