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Multijunction Concentrator Solar Cells: Analysis and Fundamentals

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High Concentrator Photovoltaics

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Multijunction (MJ) concentrator solar cells are primarily constructed of III-V semiconductor materials. The high solar-conversion efficiencies of these devices are dependent on precise control of growth conditions using one of several techniques such as molecular beam epitaxy, metal organic chemical vapour, or metal organic vapour-phase epitaxy deposition. The use of several junctions in an MJ tandem stack allows these devices to achieve efficiencies that are not possible for single-junction devices. Their behaviour is consequently complex, but it can be understood through an examination of the external quantum efficiency and the temperature dependence of each cell in the stack. This chapter lays out a systematic approach for understanding the spectral and temperature dependence of the overall MJ device by way of consideration of its component subcells. The efficiency of the cell as a function of temperature and concentration is described for both lattice-matched and metamorphic triple-junction (TJ) solar cells. The electrical characteristics and current–voltage curves are described from these considerations, and the performance of MJ solar cells under real operating conditions are then presented by considering a term describing the overall thermal factor and another term for the spectral factor. These terms can be understood from the background presented in the previous sections. Finally, the power output for the complete cell incorporated into a Fresnel lens‒based high-concentration photovoltaic system is presented for a particular geographic location using meteorological data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Eduardo F. Fernández & Antonio J. García-Loureiro

  2. Sol Ideas Technology Development, San José, California, USA

    Greg P. Smestad

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  1. Eduardo F. Fernández
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  2. Antonio J. García-Loureiro
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  3. Greg P. Smestad
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Correspondence to Eduardo F. Fernández .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain

    Pedro Pérez-Higueras

  2. University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Eduardo F. Fernández

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Fernández, E.F., García-Loureiro, A.J., Smestad, G.P. (2015). Multijunction Concentrator Solar Cells: Analysis and Fundamentals. In: Pérez-Higueras, P., Fernández, E. (eds) High Concentrator Photovoltaics. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15039-0_2

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