Photovoltaic characterization of concentrator solar cells by localized irradiation

The ability to determine the macroscopic parameters that characterize photovoltaic performance, including their spatial dependence, especially at high flux, is demonstrated with extensive solar measurements on high-efficiency concentrator solar cells. Two case studies explore (a) the impact of inhomogeneous flux distribution on photovoltaic behavior, (b) establishing how solar cell parameters vary across the cell surface (of particular interest for deployment in high-concentration optical systems), and (c), the sensitivity of photovoltaic parameters to the spatial variation of series resistance that stems from nonuniform cell metallization. In the process, we elucidate current-voltage trends unique to strongly inhomogeneous illumination and to series resistance losses at high flux. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.