Solar spectral irradiance - measurement and application in photovoltaics

This thesis presents the outcome of investigations undertaken in the field of terrestrial spectral solar irradiance characterisation and its impact on photovoltaics. Spectral irradiance has not previously been widely researched in the context of photovoltaic applications. Long-term, natural environment spectral irradiance observations are practically non-existent with availability very limited in terms of covered period, temporal resolution and site location. The work presented concentrates on four major aspects of spectral irradiance: spectroradiometer calibration spectral irradiance calibration transfer standards natural spectral irradiance variability and its impact on photovoltaic device efficiency impact of reference sensor spectral mismatch on accuracy of reference irradiance measurement

Spectral response measurements of photovoltaic devices using a pulsed source solar simulator

This paper presents a method for spectral response determination of photovoltaic devices using a commercially available pulsed source solar simulator and broadband filters. A fitting algorithm which is an iterative process is developed to model the spectral response curve. The method is tested on two different technologies of photovoltaic modules and the result shows that a fair agreement between the modelled and calibrated spectral response could be achieved with the improvement in the quality of measurement

Large scale PV system monitoring - modules technology intercomparison

This paper presents an initial analysis of a large scale PV system monitoring campaign. Ongoing project aims to be a detailed inter-comparison of different modules technologies installed in a different types of climates, identifying optimal configurations in different climatic zones. Detailed description of created plants and developed monitoring facilities was shown. Appropriate performance indicators are discussed and applied to the measurements of two sites. The resulting performance analysis of different modules technologies, is presented and discussed. Differences between crystalline and thin film technologies were marked, with thin film technologies not performing as well as expected. This is most likely due to installation issues and will be rectified in the near future.. Further investigations will be undertaken and reported in close future

Large scale PV system monitoring - modules technology intercomparison

This paper presents an initial analysis of a large scale PV system monitoring campaign. Ongoing project aims to be a detailed inter-comparison of different modules technologies installed in a different types of climates, identifying optimal configurations in different climatic zones. Detailed description of created plants and developed monitoring facilities was shown. Appropriate performance indicators are discussed and applied to the measurements of two sites. The resulting performance analysis of different modules technologies, is presented and discussed. Differences between crystalline and thin film technologies were marked, with thin film technologies not performing as well as expected. This is most likely due to installation issues and will be rectified in the near future.. Further investigations will be undertaken and reported in close future

Four-state domestic occupancy model

This is an implementation of the model described in the paper "Four-state domestic building occupancy model for energy demand simulations" by Eoghan McKenna, Michal Krawczynski, and Murray Thomson available here http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.03.013. The latest version of the model can be found here https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/15726. The four states of occupancy are described in terms of a "combined state" variable consisting of a first binary variable describing the occupancy state (1 = “at home”, 0 = “not at home”) and a second binary variable describing the activity state (1 = “active”, 0 = “not active”). This model is an extension of the two-state Domestic Active Occupancy Model by Ian Richardson and Murray Thomson (available at https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/3112)

Measurement of flash solar simulator output spectra over bulb lifetime and the effects on spectral mismatch

The effects of solar simulator xenon flash lamp ageing and spectral output measurement uncertainty on the spectral mismatch are investigated. Initial measurements demonstrated that the spectrum of an older lamp set has a relatively lower blue and larger red content compared to a new set of bulbs. Measurements over the life-time of several sets of bulbs however, showed large unexpected variations due to measurement uncertainty in the spectral measurements themselves. The main influencing factors are investigated and a faulty temperature control is found to be the main source of uncertainty. It is shown that this alone can affect the mismatch calculation to a larger degree than the MMF would correct in itself