The Effect of Global Solar Variations on the Performance of n-AlGaAs/p-GaAs Solar Cells
This study investigates how AlGaAs/GaAs thin film
solar cells perform under varying global solar spectrum due to the
changes of environmental parameters such as the air mass and the
atmospheric turbidity. The solar irradiance striking the solar cell is
simulated using the spectral irradiance model SMARTS2 (Simple
Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine) for clear
skies on the site of Setif (Algeria). The results show a reduction in the
short circuit current due to increasing atmospheric turbidity, it is
63.09% under global radiation. However increasing air mass leads to
a reduction in the short circuit current of 81.73%. The efficiency
decreases with increasing atmospheric turbidity and air mass.
[1] C. Becker et al., “Polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells: Status and
perspectives”, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 119, 2013,
pp. 112–123.
[2] N. S. Zin, A. Blakers, E. Franklin, V. Everett, “ Design, characterization
and fabrication of silicon solar cells for >>50% efficient 6-junction
tandem solar cells”, Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC '08,
2008, 33rd IEEE, pp. 1–4.
[3] T. Sojoudi et al., “Comparing AlGaAs-GaAs Heterojunction Materials
with CdS-InP Anisotype for Solar Cells Efficiency in Concentrator
Systems”, Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and
Technology, vol. 6, 2013, pp. 1923-1927.
[4] S. Thainoi et al, “n-GaAlAs on p-GaAs heterostructure solar cells grown
by molecular beam epitaxy “, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, vol.
90, 2008, pp. 2989–2994.
[5] I. Garcia, I Rey-Stolle and C. Algora, “Performance analysis of
AlGaAs/GaAs tunnel junctions for ultra-high concentration
photovoltaics”, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys, vol. 45, 2012, pp.101-109.
[6] K. Geoffrey , C. Bradshaw et all., “Carrier Transport and Improved
Collection in Thin-Barrier InGaAs/GaAsP Strained Quantum Well Solar
Cells”, IEEE Journal of Photovoltaic’s, vol. 3, 2013,pp. 278 - 283
[7] R. R. King, A. Boca,W. Hong, X.-Q. Liu, D. Bhusari, D. Larrabee, K.
M. Edmondson, D. C. Law, C. M. Fetzer, S. Mesropian, and N. H.
Karam, “Band-gap engineered architectures for high-efficiency multijunction concentrator solar cells”, 24th Eur. Photovoltaic Sol.
Energy Conf. Exhib., Hamburg, Germany, 2009.
[8] X. Lu et al. “Improving GaP Solar Cell Performance by Passivating the
Surface Using AlxGa1–xP Epi-Layer”, IEEE Journal of the Electron
Devices Society, vol.1, 2013,pp. 111-116
[9] M. Sojoudi, R. Madatov, T. Sojoudi , “optimization of efficiency of
solar cells by accelerated electron ray to have an optimal and constant
energy”, International Journal on Technical and Physical Problems of
Engineering (IJTPE), vol.3, 2011,pp.68-71.
[10] C .Gueymard, “Temporal variability in direct and global irradiance at
various time scales as affected by aerosols“, Solar Energy, vol. 86, 2012,
pp. 3544–3553.
[11] V. Badescu C. Gueymard, “Computing global and diffuse solar hourly
irradiation on clear sky. Review and testing of 54 models“, Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 16, 2012, pp. 1636–1656.
[12] C. Gueymard, “REST2: High-performance solar radiation model for
cloudless-sky irradiance, illuminance, and photosynthetically active
radiation –Validation with a benchmark dataset “. Solar Energy, vol. 82,
2008, pp. 272–285.
[13] C. Gueymard, R. George, “Gridded aerosol optical depth climatological
datasets over continents for solar radiation modeling“. Proceedings of
the Solar World Congress. International Solar Energy Society, Orlando,
FL, 2005.
[14] C.Gueymard, “SMARTS2, Simple Model of the atmospheric Radiative
Transfer of Sunshine: Algorithms and performance assessment“. Report.
FSEC-PF-270-95, Florida-Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, FL, 1995
[15] C. Gueymard, “Visibility, aerosol conditions, and irradiance attenuation
close to the ground Comments on Solar radiation attenuation in solar
power plants by J. Ballestrin and A. Marzo“, Solar Energy, vol. 86,
2012, pp. 1667-1668.
[16] C .Gueymard, D. R. Myers “Evaluation of conventional and highperformance
routine solar radiation measurements for improved solar
resource, climatological trends, and radiative modeling“, Solar Energy ,
2009, vol. 83, pp. 171–185.
[17] M. Kocifaj, C. Gueymard, “Theoretical evaluation of errors in aerosol
optical depth retrievals from ground-based direct-sun measurements due
to circumsolar and related effects”, Atmospheric Environment, vol. 45,
2011, pp. 1050–1058.
[18] M. A Green, “Solar Cells, Operating Principals, Technology, and
System Applications“, Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, 1982.
[19] M. Chegaar, G. Azzouzi, and P. Mialhe, “Simple parameter extraction
method for illuminated solar cells“. Solid-State Electronics, vol. 50,
2006, pp. 1234 -1237.
[1] C. Becker et al., “Polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells: Status and
perspectives”, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 119, 2013,
pp. 112–123.
[2] N. S. Zin, A. Blakers, E. Franklin, V. Everett, “ Design, characterization
and fabrication of silicon solar cells for >>50% efficient 6-junction
tandem solar cells”, Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC '08,
2008, 33rd IEEE, pp. 1–4.
[3] T. Sojoudi et al., “Comparing AlGaAs-GaAs Heterojunction Materials
with CdS-InP Anisotype for Solar Cells Efficiency in Concentrator
Systems”, Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and
Technology, vol. 6, 2013, pp. 1923-1927.
[4] S. Thainoi et al, “n-GaAlAs on p-GaAs heterostructure solar cells grown
by molecular beam epitaxy “, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, vol.
90, 2008, pp. 2989–2994.
[5] I. Garcia, I Rey-Stolle and C. Algora, “Performance analysis of
AlGaAs/GaAs tunnel junctions for ultra-high concentration
photovoltaics”, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys, vol. 45, 2012, pp.101-109.
[6] K. Geoffrey , C. Bradshaw et all., “Carrier Transport and Improved
Collection in Thin-Barrier InGaAs/GaAsP Strained Quantum Well Solar
Cells”, IEEE Journal of Photovoltaic’s, vol. 3, 2013,pp. 278 - 283
[7] R. R. King, A. Boca,W. Hong, X.-Q. Liu, D. Bhusari, D. Larrabee, K.
M. Edmondson, D. C. Law, C. M. Fetzer, S. Mesropian, and N. H.
Karam, “Band-gap engineered architectures for high-efficiency multijunction concentrator solar cells”, 24th Eur. Photovoltaic Sol.
Energy Conf. Exhib., Hamburg, Germany, 2009.
[8] X. Lu et al. “Improving GaP Solar Cell Performance by Passivating the
Surface Using AlxGa1–xP Epi-Layer”, IEEE Journal of the Electron
Devices Society, vol.1, 2013,pp. 111-116
[9] M. Sojoudi, R. Madatov, T. Sojoudi , “optimization of efficiency of
solar cells by accelerated electron ray to have an optimal and constant
energy”, International Journal on Technical and Physical Problems of
Engineering (IJTPE), vol.3, 2011,pp.68-71.
[10] C .Gueymard, “Temporal variability in direct and global irradiance at
various time scales as affected by aerosols“, Solar Energy, vol. 86, 2012,
pp. 3544–3553.
[11] V. Badescu C. Gueymard, “Computing global and diffuse solar hourly
irradiation on clear sky. Review and testing of 54 models“, Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 16, 2012, pp. 1636–1656.
[12] C. Gueymard, “REST2: High-performance solar radiation model for
cloudless-sky irradiance, illuminance, and photosynthetically active
radiation –Validation with a benchmark dataset “. Solar Energy, vol. 82,
2008, pp. 272–285.
[13] C. Gueymard, R. George, “Gridded aerosol optical depth climatological
datasets over continents for solar radiation modeling“. Proceedings of
the Solar World Congress. International Solar Energy Society, Orlando,
FL, 2005.
[14] C.Gueymard, “SMARTS2, Simple Model of the atmospheric Radiative
Transfer of Sunshine: Algorithms and performance assessment“. Report.
FSEC-PF-270-95, Florida-Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, FL, 1995
[15] C. Gueymard, “Visibility, aerosol conditions, and irradiance attenuation
close to the ground Comments on Solar radiation attenuation in solar
power plants by J. Ballestrin and A. Marzo“, Solar Energy, vol. 86,
2012, pp. 1667-1668.
[16] C .Gueymard, D. R. Myers “Evaluation of conventional and highperformance
routine solar radiation measurements for improved solar
resource, climatological trends, and radiative modeling“, Solar Energy ,
2009, vol. 83, pp. 171–185.
[17] M. Kocifaj, C. Gueymard, “Theoretical evaluation of errors in aerosol
optical depth retrievals from ground-based direct-sun measurements due
to circumsolar and related effects”, Atmospheric Environment, vol. 45,
2011, pp. 1050–1058.
[18] M. A Green, “Solar Cells, Operating Principals, Technology, and
System Applications“, Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, 1982.
[19] M. Chegaar, G. Azzouzi, and P. Mialhe, “Simple parameter extraction
method for illuminated solar cells“. Solid-State Electronics, vol. 50,
2006, pp. 1234 -1237.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:68759", author = "A. Guechi and M. Chegaar", title = "The Effect of Global Solar Variations on the Performance of n-AlGaAs/p-GaAs Solar Cells", abstract = "This study investigates how AlGaAs/GaAs thin film
solar cells perform under varying global solar spectrum due to the
changes of environmental parameters such as the air mass and the
atmospheric turbidity. The solar irradiance striking the solar cell is
simulated using the spectral irradiance model SMARTS2 (Simple
Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine) for clear
skies on the site of Setif (Algeria). The results show a reduction in the
short circuit current due to increasing atmospheric turbidity, it is
63.09% under global radiation. However increasing air mass leads to
a reduction in the short circuit current of 81.73%. The efficiency
decreases with increasing atmospheric turbidity and air mass.
", keywords = "AlGaAs/GaAs, Solar Cells, Environmental parameters, Spectral Variation, SMARTS.", volume = "9", number = "1", pages = "62-4", }
