Fine-tuning of Multi-Junction solar cells: an in-depth evaluation
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Parent, Laurène; Riverola, Alberto; Chemisana, Daniel; Dollet, Alain; VOSSIER, Alexis
- Source
- IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics
IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, IEEE, In press
- Subject
- photovoltaic cell
[SPI]Engineering Sciences [physics]
[SPI] Engineering Sciences [physics]
efficiency
Index Terms-Multi-junction
sen- sitivity
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2156-3381
2156-3403
International audience; Multi-junction (MJ) solar cells are currently seen as the most promising technology toward achieving incomparable solar to electricity conversion efficiency, largely surpassing the best conventional single-junction solar cells. It was recently shown that futuristic cell architectures encompassing increasing number of subcells will likely show increased sensitivity to the spectral distribution of sunlight, giving rise to dramatic variations in the energy output of MJ-based PV systems from one location to the other. Here we investigate the extent to which MJ cells fined-tuned to the spectral-distribution of any particular site are likely to outperform conventionally-designed solar cells (tailored to AM1.5 reference solar spectrum). We first tackle the question of the extent to which fine-tuning may improve the performance of MJ cells showing deviations in the values of the main atmospheric parameters, relative to the reference solar spectrum. We then evaluate the potential of fine-tuning in improving the energy output of MJ cells-based PV systems for several locations selected for being representative of the broad diversity of atmospheric and climatic conditions. Implications for future generations of multi-junction solar cells are finally discussed.