Annual energy losses due to partial shading in PV modules with cut wafer-based Si solar cells

Brecl, Kristijan (author), Bokalič, Matevž (author), Topič, Marko (author)

To further improve the efficiency of the wafer-based silicon photovoltaic (PV) module, producers are introducing new module designs with cut-cells. Since smaller solar cells might be affected by partial shading even more and earlier than full-size cells, the energy performance simulations of partially shaded modules are crucial. A detailed shading analyses of partially shaded modules with different cut cell designs are presented not only on a single case scenario but on annual energy yield simulations using Spice, where a shading scenario over the whole module by the use of a new 3D shading horizon profile of selected shading objects is calculated. The annual simulations reveal that regardless the module design almost all cells in the module are confronted by reverse bias, which can deteriorate the module performance significantly. Simulation results with three different shading objects on five different module topologies at five locations showed that the best cut-cell module design depends strongly by the micro location and shading objects; however, in general the string of solar cells connected in series should be aligned with the shading shape around noontime as much as possible. A comprehensive annual energy performance evaluation of partially shaded cut-cell modules revealed; that with a correct cell layout of cut-cells in a PV module, the shading losses can be reduced by 30–50% if comparing to the standard PV module design.

• Language: English
• Keywords: PV module, shading, cut cells, energy balance models, losses
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 195-203
• Numbering: Vol. 168
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-124062
• UDC: 621.383.51
• ISSN on article: 0960-1481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.12.059
• COBISS.SI-ID: 44146435
• Publication date in RUL: 23.12.2020

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Renewable energy
• Shortened title: Renew. energy
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0960-1481
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8704261

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: PV moduli, senčenje, rezane celice, energijski modeli, izgube

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0197
• Name: Fotovoltaika in elektronika

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: H2020
• Project number: 857793
• Name: High-performance low-cost modules with excellent environmental profiles for a competitive EU PV manufacturing industry
• Acronym: HighLite