An investigation into spectral parameters as they impact CPV module performance

The concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) industry is well aware that performance of triple junction cells depends on spectral conditions but there is a lack of data quantifying this spectral dependence at the module level. This paper explores the impact of aerosol optical depth (AOD), precipitable water vapor (PWV), and optical air mass (AM) on module performance, in conjunction with the SMARTS spectral model, cell quantum efficiency (QE) data (InGaP/InGaAs/Ge optimized for a G173/AM 1.5 spectrum), and spectral measurements from a PG S-100 Direct Normal Spectral Radiometer.