Simulation studies of hole textured and planar microcrystalline silicon solar cell at different zenith angle

Abstract

Efficiency of solar cell greatly depends on its interaction with input solar irradiance. For highly efficient solar cell, absorption of input light should be maximum at all angles. Different surface texturing techniques like pyramid texturing, cone texturing, pillar texturing have been used to increase absorption of light in solar cell. Micro-hole Surface texturing is getting popular in absorption of solar radiation at higher zenith angle. In this paper, effect of varying zenith angle on hole textured solar cell's performance is studied. By varying zenith angle, input solar spectrum irradiance is changed which results in a change in the performance of solar cell. It has been observed that by increasing zenith angle, efficiency of solar cell decreases due to decrease in input spectrum irradiance and less absorption of light from surface. Paper also presents a comparison of plane surface solar cell and the hole textured solar cell. Hole textured solar cell shows better performance than the plane surface solar cell at normal angle of incidence. The difference in the performance of both types of solar cell becomes more pronounced with the increase in the zenith angle.