Mechanically stacked solar cells for concentrator photovoltaics
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Accepted Version
Date
2011
Authors
Mathews, Ian P.
O'Mahony, Donagh
Yu, Weiwei
Gordan, Declan
Cordero, Nicolas
Corbett, Brian M.
Morrison, Alan P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ICREPQ
Published Version
Abstract
The power output of dual-junction mechanically stacked solar cells comprising different sub-cell materials in a terrestrial concentrating photovoltaic module has been evaluated. The ideal bandgap combination of both cells in a stack was found using EtaOpt. A combination of 1.4 eV and 0.7 eV has been found to produce the highest photovoltaic conversion efficiency under the AM1.5 Direct Solar Spectrum with x500 concentration. As EtaOpt does not consider the absorption profile of solar cell materials; the practical power output per unit area of a dual junction mechanically stacked solar cell has been modelled considering the optical absorption co-efficients and thicknesses of the individual solar cells. The model considered a GaAs top cell and a Ge, GaSb, Ga0.47In0.53As or Si bottom cell. It was found that GaSb gives the highest power contribution as a bottom cell in a dual junction configuration followed by Ge and GaInAs. While the additional power provided by a Si bottom cell is less than these it remains a suitable candidate for a bottom cell owing to its lower cost
Description
Keywords
Mechanical stack , GaAs , Photovoltaic , Concentration , Modelling
Citation
I. Mathews, D. O’Mahony, W. Yu, D. Gordon, N. Cordero, B. Corbett, A. P. Morrison. 2011. Mechanically Stacked Solar Cells for Concentrator Photovoltaics. In: International Conference on Renewable Energies and Power Quality. Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011.