The Relevance of the Cell’s Breakdown Voltage in the DC Yield of Partially Shaded PV Modules

Conference paper (2021)

Authors

A. Calcabrini Photovoltaic Materials and Devices - EEMCS
V. Kambhampati Intelligent Electrical Power Grids - EEMCS
P. Manganiello Photovoltaic Materials and Devices - EEMCS
M. Zeman Electrical Sustainable Energy
O. Isabella Photovoltaic Materials and Devices - EEMCS
Research Group
Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (EEMCS) (TU Delft)
Urban PV Low breakdown voltage Shade tolerant
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

Department

Electrical Sustainable Energy

Research Group

Photovoltaic Materials and Devices

Abstract

In this manuscript, we discuss the relevance of the reverse characteristics of solar cells in the energy yield of partially shaded photovoltaic modules. We characterize the reverse IV curves of commercially available cells and we simulate the energy yield of photovoltaic modules using an experimentally validated simulation framework. Results suggest that cells with low breakdown voltages can boost the energy yield up to 74% in modules that are heavily shaded. Also, yield gains larger than 1% can be achieved for modules that are partially shaded only 7% of the time.