WAVELABS’ solar simulator enabled PTB to achieve a solar module power measurement uncertainty of 0.9%
PTB also found a standard deviation of the short-circuit current at only 0.1% over a 5-month period with its solar calibration system
The same is now also equipped to measure perovskite and tandem solar modules
WAVELABS of Germany says its new SINUS-3000 ADVANCED LED-based solar simulator has helped its customer Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) achieve a measurement uncertainty of ‘just’ 0.9% for silicon solar module power measurement. The company claims it to be the lowest known uncertainty for power measurement of such modules under standard test conditions.
Both companies believe this sets a new standard for solar module measurement.
The new simulator of German solar metrology solution provider WAVELABS helped achieve this measurement in a solar calibration system of the PTB.
Germany’s national metrology institute PTB measures reference modules on a regular basis to verify the accuracy of the measuring instruments. Monitoring the same over a period of 5 months showed a standard deviation of the short-circuit current at only 0.1%.
Due to the precise control of the individual LED channels, WAVELABS says its updated solar simulator can measure the spectral sensitivity of the solar modules without causing damage. Additionally, the tool is also complemented by a climate chamber for stable temperature control.
“With our new calibration system, we can now accurately measure even large-format solar modules,” said PTB’s Head of the Solar Module Working Group, Dr. Stefan Riechelmann.
The same calibration system has been customized to measure perovskite and tandem solar modules that require extended IV measurement times, sometimes reaching in hours.
“Our LED-based light source also enables flexible spectral adjustments, allowing us to independently control the illumination for the top and bottom cells—an essential prerequisite for precise calibration of perovskite tandem solar modules,” added Riechelmann.
Earlier this year, in June 2024, WAVELABS launched a new LED-based solar simulator model SINUS-430 ADVANCED at Intersolar Europe 2024 saying it is compatible with thin-film or perovskite-based tandem cell technology route (see WAVELABS Launches SINUS-430 ADVANCED Sun-Simulator).