Spectrum Controlled Solar Simulation for Factory Testing of CPV modules

Abstract

The validity of a solar simulator for concentrator PV modules is assessed through a comprehensive characterization of its illumination system: irradiance level and uniformity at the receiver, light collimation and spectral distribution. Methods for adjusting and characterizing the spectrum are described and applied, and a more meaningful way of comparing it with the reference spectrum is proposed, by means of the measurement of component (‘isotype’) solar cells