Does solar cell capacitance affect electrical characterization of photovoltaic (PV) modules?

The effect of solar cell capacitance in the electrical characterization of photovoltaic (PV) modules at Standard Test Conditions (STC) is known since the 1990s.

How can a solar simulator reduce the capacitive effect?

Newer solar simulators allow the operator to manually 'shape' the profile of the voltage ramp: in the shaped sweep I–V (figure 12 ), then, d V /d t can be 'built' [ 27] to be as slow as needed at voltages close to the maximum power point, and thus mitigate the capacitive effect.

Does cell capacitance affect I – V measurements?

The effect of cell capacitance in the high-efficiency Si PV module available nowadays can give rise, if uncorrected, to a severe underestimation of in direct I – V measurements.

Can we measure light-induced diffusion capacitance charge in silicon solar cells?

For a better understanding of the so-called capacitance effect systematic capacitance measurements of different photovoltaic devices have been performed and compared with theory. At ESTI we developed, for these types of measurements, a method to measure the light-induced diffusion capacitance charge (QDi.-) in silicon solar cells .

Does the capacitance effect depend on illumination intensity?

It is also seen that the capacitance effect depends on the illumination intensity which means that the determination of the series resistance, which is usually evaluated from the slopes around MPP for the 1000W/m² and 500W/m² intensity curves can be erroneous. Fig. 1.

What is the electrical behaviour of a solar cell?

The electrical behaviour of a solar cell can be described in classical physics terms with the equivalent circuit of figure 1, which represents the single diode capacitive model of a solar cell.