Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 9429873 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1078-1086 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | IEEE journal of photovoltaics |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 12 May 2021 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Strings constructed from three-terminal tandem (3TT) solar cells offer the performance benefits of voltage-matching (which reduces sensitivity to spectral variation), but without the subcell voltage isolation required by four-terminal cells. However, the circuitry for a 3TT string can become complex, making circuit analysis more challenging. Here, we illustrate the essential features of 'homogenous' voltage-matched (VM) 3TT strings, for which all 3TT cells in the string are nominally identical (with the same design/doping sequence, such that they can be fabricated on the same manufacturing line). Several representative VM string configurations are explicitly considered, and used to describe the general construction of string I(V) curves. End losses intrinsic to these strings are discussed in detail, along with mitigation strategies to minimize their impact. Our analysis agrees with experimental results for eight-cell strings constructed from GaInP/GaAs 3TT devices.
Keywords
- Cell stringing, Doping, Limiting, Photovoltaic cells, Photovoltaic systems, Renewable energy sources, Silicon, tandem cells, three-terminal, voltage-matched (VM), Wiring
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. 11, No. 4, 9429873, 12.05.2021, p. 1078-1086.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Homogenous Voltage-Matched Strings Using Three-Terminal Tandem Solar Cells
T2 - Fundamentals and End Losses
AU - McMahon, William
AU - Schulte-Huxel, Henning
AU - Buencuerpo, Jeronimo
AU - Geisz, John
AU - Young, Michelle
AU - Klein, Talysa
AU - Tamboli, Adele
AU - Warren, Emily
N1 - Funding Information: Manuscript received January 7, 2021; revised February 16, 2021; accepted March 18, 2021. Date of publication May 12, 2021; date of current version June 21, 2021. This work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC36-08GO28308 with Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, in part by the Manager and Operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and in part by the U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office under Grant 34911. (Corresponding author: William E. McMahon.) William E. McMahon, Jeronimo Buencuerpo, John F. Geisz, Michelle S. Young, Talysa R. Klein, Adele C. Tamboli, and Emily L. Warren are with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA (e-mail: bill.mcmahon@nrel.gov; jeronimo.buencuerpo@nrel.gov; john.geisz@nrel. gov; michelle.young@nrel.gov; talysa.klein@nrel.gov; adele.tamboli@ nrel.gov; emily.warren@nrel.gov).
PY - 2021/5/12
Y1 - 2021/5/12
N2 - Strings constructed from three-terminal tandem (3TT) solar cells offer the performance benefits of voltage-matching (which reduces sensitivity to spectral variation), but without the subcell voltage isolation required by four-terminal cells. However, the circuitry for a 3TT string can become complex, making circuit analysis more challenging. Here, we illustrate the essential features of 'homogenous' voltage-matched (VM) 3TT strings, for which all 3TT cells in the string are nominally identical (with the same design/doping sequence, such that they can be fabricated on the same manufacturing line). Several representative VM string configurations are explicitly considered, and used to describe the general construction of string I(V) curves. End losses intrinsic to these strings are discussed in detail, along with mitigation strategies to minimize their impact. Our analysis agrees with experimental results for eight-cell strings constructed from GaInP/GaAs 3TT devices.
AB - Strings constructed from three-terminal tandem (3TT) solar cells offer the performance benefits of voltage-matching (which reduces sensitivity to spectral variation), but without the subcell voltage isolation required by four-terminal cells. However, the circuitry for a 3TT string can become complex, making circuit analysis more challenging. Here, we illustrate the essential features of 'homogenous' voltage-matched (VM) 3TT strings, for which all 3TT cells in the string are nominally identical (with the same design/doping sequence, such that they can be fabricated on the same manufacturing line). Several representative VM string configurations are explicitly considered, and used to describe the general construction of string I(V) curves. End losses intrinsic to these strings are discussed in detail, along with mitigation strategies to minimize their impact. Our analysis agrees with experimental results for eight-cell strings constructed from GaInP/GaAs 3TT devices.
KW - Cell stringing
KW - Doping
KW - Limiting
KW - Photovoltaic cells
KW - Photovoltaic systems
KW - Renewable energy sources
KW - Silicon
KW - tandem cells
KW - three-terminal
KW - voltage-matched (VM)
KW - Wiring
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105863641&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2021.3068325
DO - 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2021.3068325
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85105863641
VL - 11
SP - 1078
EP - 1086
JO - IEEE journal of photovoltaics
JF - IEEE journal of photovoltaics
SN - 2156-3381
IS - 4
M1 - 9429873
ER -