Low-cost outdoor spectral irradiances determination and its application on Concentrator Photovoltaic module power rating and energy yield calculation

In this work, a method to calculate the aerosol content in the atmosphere and the prevailing spectral irradiance of the sunlight is introduced. This method does not aim for low measurement uncertainty but for cost effectiveness and does not require sophisticated equipment. The bases of the method are the clear sky direct normal irradiance (DNI) and a look-up table calculated with the software tool SMARTS2. The ratio of clear sky DNI to the prevailing DNI in combination with the look-up table allows the determination of aerosol optical depth (AOD), spectral matching ratios (SMR), and spectral irradiances. Besides the prevailing DNI, the following ambient condition parameters are required: Air pressure, relative humidity, and ambient temperature. This means a weather station and a pyrheliometer are sufficient for the determination of the prevailing spectral irradiance. Obviously, this method cannot guarantee the same accuracy as conventional spectral irradiance measurement methods (e.g., using a spectroradiometer). However, in this work, we demonstrate the potential of this new method as a fall-back strategy for missing spectral irradiance data. This method is worth using when (C)PV module power output data needs to be evaluated in dependence of the composition of the spectral irradiance, but no regular spectral irradiance data are available. In this paper, the AOD and SMR values determined with the introduced method are compared to measurement data with common measurement devices demonstrating a satisfying agreement. The spectral irradiances calculated with this method are successfully tested for using as the basis for energy yield calculations and for the determination of the CPV module power output at Concentrator Standard Conditions according to IEC 62670-1.

Automated summary

A method for calculating aerosol content in the atmosphere and spectral irradiance of sunlight is introduced. It is a cost-effective method that does not require sophisticated equipment. The method demonstrates potential as a fallback strategy when regular spectral irradiance data is not available.