Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 683-688 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 23 Feb 2018 |
| Publication status | Published - May 2018 |
Abstract
The optimization of a solar cell requires a detailed knowledge of the efficiency limiting power losses. The free energy loss analysis (FELA) and the synergistic efficiency gain analysis (SEGA) both allow for studying these power losses. We compare both approaches for industrial passivated emitter and rear solar cells. The resistive losses calculated with both approaches are in good agreement with each other. In contrast, we find deviations of more than 20% for losses because of charge carrier recombination. From an analytical description of both methods, we conclude that these deviations are caused by a shift of the maximum power point voltage in an improved cell which is not considered in the FELA. The deviation of the losses critically depends on the specific loss channel investigated. In contrast with implied front-side power gains which are usually underestimated, rear-side or absorber gains can be over or underestimated by the FELA depending on the magnitude of the power loss. These differences follow from the Fermi level splitting which is affected differently by recombination currents at different locations. For an accurate determination of the efficiency improvement potential of individual recombination loss channels, we therefore recommend to perform a SEGA.
Keywords
- characterization, Metrology, performance loss, photovoltaic cells, Si PV modeling
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Engineering(all)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 8, No. 3, 05.2018, p. 683-688.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of Free Energy Loss Analysis and Synergistic Efficiency Gain Analysis for PERC Solar Cells
AU - Kruse, Christian N.
AU - Bothe, Karsten
AU - Brendel, Rolf
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2011-2012 IEEE. Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - The optimization of a solar cell requires a detailed knowledge of the efficiency limiting power losses. The free energy loss analysis (FELA) and the synergistic efficiency gain analysis (SEGA) both allow for studying these power losses. We compare both approaches for industrial passivated emitter and rear solar cells. The resistive losses calculated with both approaches are in good agreement with each other. In contrast, we find deviations of more than 20% for losses because of charge carrier recombination. From an analytical description of both methods, we conclude that these deviations are caused by a shift of the maximum power point voltage in an improved cell which is not considered in the FELA. The deviation of the losses critically depends on the specific loss channel investigated. In contrast with implied front-side power gains which are usually underestimated, rear-side or absorber gains can be over or underestimated by the FELA depending on the magnitude of the power loss. These differences follow from the Fermi level splitting which is affected differently by recombination currents at different locations. For an accurate determination of the efficiency improvement potential of individual recombination loss channels, we therefore recommend to perform a SEGA.
AB - The optimization of a solar cell requires a detailed knowledge of the efficiency limiting power losses. The free energy loss analysis (FELA) and the synergistic efficiency gain analysis (SEGA) both allow for studying these power losses. We compare both approaches for industrial passivated emitter and rear solar cells. The resistive losses calculated with both approaches are in good agreement with each other. In contrast, we find deviations of more than 20% for losses because of charge carrier recombination. From an analytical description of both methods, we conclude that these deviations are caused by a shift of the maximum power point voltage in an improved cell which is not considered in the FELA. The deviation of the losses critically depends on the specific loss channel investigated. In contrast with implied front-side power gains which are usually underestimated, rear-side or absorber gains can be over or underestimated by the FELA depending on the magnitude of the power loss. These differences follow from the Fermi level splitting which is affected differently by recombination currents at different locations. For an accurate determination of the efficiency improvement potential of individual recombination loss channels, we therefore recommend to perform a SEGA.
KW - characterization
KW - Metrology
KW - performance loss
KW - photovoltaic cells
KW - Si PV modeling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042723165&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2018.2802779
DO - 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2018.2802779
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85042723165
VL - 8
SP - 683
EP - 688
JO - IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics
JF - IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics
SN - 2156-3381
IS - 3
ER -