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2020
Presentation
Titel
Impact of Solar Cell Dimensions on Module Power, Efficiency and Cell-To-Module Losses
Titel Supplements
Paper presented at the 30th International Photovolatic Science and Engineering Conference (PVSEC) & Global Photovoltaic Conference (GPVC) 2020, Jeju, Republic of Korea, November 8 - 13, 2020
Abstract
We analyze the impact of larger solar cells and cell splitting on module power, efficiency and single gain and loss factors using Cell-To-Module (CTM) analysis. Solar cells from M0 (156.75 mm) to M12 (210 mm) as well as full cells, half and third cut module designs are analyzed for Standard Testing Conditions (STC) and non-STC. We find the modules with larger cells to have a higher module power than modules with smaller cells (up to +77%). The CTMpower-ratio decreases for larger cells (-5%abs) and is higher for split solar cells than for full cells (up to +7.7%abs). Module efficiency increases with cell size if the cells are split (up to +1.1%abs). For full cells significant electrical losses in the solar cell interconnection overcompensate higher active area shares and reduce module efficiency. We calculate the module temperature and find modules with smaller solar cells to be cooler (up to -2.8 K). Also, split cell modules are cooler than full cell modules (up to -1.4 K). The size of the solar cell has a significant impact on the module operation. Modules with smaller or split solar cells perform relatively better at higher irradiance. The impact of irradiance on power output is also relatively smaller. We find modules with M12 solar cells to have the highest power density (W/m²) of all analyzed setups. Splitting of solar cells provides significant benefits for larger solar cells (up to +9.1%). The use of large area full cells should be avoided due to significant CTM-losses.