A framework for comparing the energy production of photovoltaic modules using 2-, 3-, and 4-terminal tandem cells

McMahon, William E.; Geisz, John F.; Buencuerpo, Jerónimo; Warren, Emily L.

doi:10.1039/d2se01167k

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…(c) development of Si-perovskite tandem SCs with transition metal oxides as carrierselective contacts is another option for performance improvement [52][53][54].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On Numerical Modelling and an Experimental Approach to Heterojunction Tandem Solar Cells Based on Si and Cu2O/ZnO—Results and Perspectives

Fara,

Chilibon,

Vasiliu

et al. 2024

Coatings

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A comparative analysis of three advanced architectures for tandem solar cells (SCs) is discussed, respectively: metal oxide, thin film, and perovskite. Plasmonic solar cells could further increase solar cell efficiency. Using this development, an innovative PV technology (an SHTSC based on metal oxides) represented by a four-terminal Cu2O/c-Si tandem heterojunction solar cell is investigated. The experimental and numerical modelling study defines the main aim of this paper. The experimental approach to SHTSCs is analysed: (1) a Cu2O layer is deposited using a magnetron sputtering system; (2) the morphological and optical characterization of Cu2O thin films is studied. The electrical modelling of silicon heterojunction tandem solar cells (SHTSCs) is discussed based on five simulation tools for the optimized performance evaluation of solar devices. The main novelty of this paper is represented by the following results: (1) the analysis suggests that the incorporation of a buffer layer can improve the performance of a tandem heterojunction solar cell; (2) the effect of interface defects on the electrical characteristics of the AZO/Cu2O heterojunction is discussed; (3) the stability of SHTSCs based on metal oxides is studied to highlight the degradation rate in order to define a reliable solar device. Perspectives on SHTSCs based on metal oxides, as well as Si perovskite tandem solar cells with metal oxides as carrier-selective contacts, are commented on.

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“…(c) development of Si-perovskite tandem SCs with transition metal oxides as carrierselective contacts is another option for performance improvement [52][53][54].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On Numerical Modelling and an Experimental Approach to Heterojunction Tandem Solar Cells Based on Si and Cu2O/ZnO—Results and Perspectives

Fara,

Chilibon,

Vasiliu

et al. 2024

Coatings

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“…[57] With 1.80 eV (tunable between 1.65 and 1.82 eV [45] ), GaInP features an almost optimum bandgap for various potential bandgap pairings and is therefore used as top cell absorber in many III/V-on-siliconbased 2T and 3T TSCs. [11][12][13]18,23,36,58,59]…”

Section: Efficiency Limit Of 3t Tscs For Voltage-matched Stringsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bandgap Pairing in Three‐Terminal Tandem Solar Cells: From Limiting Efficiency to Voltage‐Matched Device Performance

Wagner,

Tockhorn,

Zimmermann

et al. 2024

Solar RRL

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Three–terminal tandem solar cells (3T TSCs) have recently sparked increasing interest as they feature a lean monolithic device architecture similar to two–terminal TSCs and, like four–terminal TSCs, do not require current matching for optimal operation. In this contribution, we conduct detailed balance limit calculations for different combinations of top and bottom cell bandgaps to determine the optimum bandgap pairing and limiting efficiency of 3T TSCs. An experimental realisation of a 3T TSC with perovskite and silicon sub–cells and a combined efficiency of 28.9% is presented and used to derive a realistic parametrisation for non–radiative recombination. We further determine the optimum bandgap pairing and resulting maximum efficiency under voltage–matched conditions for voltage–matching ratios of 1:2 and 2:3, which is relevant for stringing and module integration of 3T TSCs. To this end, we incorporate non–radiative recombination in our model and quantify it by matching theoretical open–circuit voltages and those of real–world high–efficiency solar cells based on different absorber materials (and thus bandgaps), including the perovskite top cell of our own best in–house 3T TSC.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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“…

Modeling of energy harvesting efficiency (EHE) can be used to assess the relative merits of various tandem cell architectures when operated under outdoor conditions. [1] Given the different spectral dependencies of tandem cells compared to singlejunction solar cells, it is crucial to quantify their energy production under varying spectra. Here, we compare the simulated performance of 2-terminal (2T) and 4-terminal (4T) perovskite//silicon tandem cells over the course of a year in Golden, Colorado (USA).

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral Effects on the Energy Harvesting Efficiency of Two‐ and Four‐Terminal Tandem Photovoltaics

Witteck,

Geisz,

Warren

et al. 2023

Solar RRL

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In this work, the effect of a varying spectral irradiance and top cell bandgap on the energy harvesting efficiency of two‐terminal (2T) and four‐terminal (4T) perovskite//silicon tandem solar cells under outdoor operating conditions is investigated. For the comparison, an optoelectronic model employing a 1 year outdoor data set for a 4T mechanical stacked gallium arsenide (GaAs) on crystalline silicon (Si) tandem device is first validated. Then, the verified model is used to simulate perovskite//silicon tandem devices with a varying perovskite top cell bandgap for a location in Golden, Colorado, USA. A spectral binning method to efficiently reduce and improve the visualization of the 1 min‐resolved environmental data while maintaining the simulation accuracy is introduced. The findings reveal that, for a device that is current matched under standard testing conditions, the annual spectral deviation reduces the energy harvesting efficiency by only 2%rel. When additional realistic losses for the 4T are taken into account, 2T devices are shown to have an energy‐harvesting efficiency that is at parity or higher. Deviations in the top cell bandgap are more than 0.1 eV from current matching result in a reduced energy harvesting efficiency of more than 5%rel for the 2T tandem device.

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A framework for comparing the energy production of photovoltaic modules using 2-, 3-, and 4-terminal tandem cells

Abstract: One of the design choices to be made when constructing photovoltaic modules from tandem solar cells is whether to use 2-, 3-, or 4-terminal tandem devices. Two-terminal (2T) cells are...

Cited by 7 publications

References 36 publications

On Numerical Modelling and an Experimental Approach to Heterojunction Tandem Solar Cells Based on Si and Cu2O/ZnO—Results and Perspectives

On Numerical Modelling and an Experimental Approach to Heterojunction Tandem Solar Cells Based on Si and Cu2O/ZnO—Results and Perspectives

Bandgap Pairing in Three‐Terminal Tandem Solar Cells: From Limiting Efficiency to Voltage‐Matched Device Performance

Spectral Effects on the Energy Harvesting Efficiency of Two‐ and Four‐Terminal Tandem Photovoltaics

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