With an aim to reliably measure the efficiency of perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules for their industrialization, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (BMWK) is funding a project headed by Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE for which Wavelabs Solar Metrology Systems GmbH has prepared a solar simulator. Oxford PV is also an associate partner for the Katana project.
"It is important to provide highly precise and reproducible measurements for this emerging technology as soon as possible so that there can be objective competition," explained Division Director for Photovoltaic Technologies at Fraunhofer ISE, Prof Dr Stefan Glunz.
The idea of the Katana project is to develop methods to characterize perovskite-based tandem modules.
So far, the efficiency of perovskite-based tandem modules had to be measured in complex and weather-dependent outdoor tests. However, the solar simulator can homogenously irradiate modules over the entire surface and stimulate light at arbitrary times of day and regions.
Developed especially for this project by Wavelabs, the solar simulator is now installed in Fraunhofer's CalLab PV Modules. It can measure lab-scale perovskite -silicon PV cells with an area of 5×5 millimeters up to PV modules of 2.40 mtr. x 1.30 mtr.
According to the institute, the very large wavelength range of the simulator, ranging from 320 to 1650 nanometers is due to 28 different spectrally adjustable light channels distributed over 40 light sources with a total of 18,400 LEDs. This forms the basis for the test procedures developed by the researchers for perovskite-silicon tandem technology.
Fraunhofer said beginning 2024, the heat generated by the longer illumination times during module characterization will be compensated by a climate chamber, in which the tandem PV cells and modules will be placed for measurement.
"The development of a new calibration capability for accurately determining the performance of perovskite-on-silicon cells and modules will enable high-quality independent measurements of this breakthrough technology," said Oxford PV's Test and Measurement Department Manager Dr David Bushnell.
Fraunhofer ISE recently announced a new outdoor performance solar test field for reliable insights in real life conditions, and also unveiled a test stand for integrated warning systems in inverters (see New IEC Standard For Inverters).