Significance and Use
It is the intent of this test method to provide a recognized method for testing and reporting the electrical performance of photovoltaic cells.
The test results may be used for comparison of cells among a group of similar cells or to compare diverse designs, such as different manufacturers' products. Repeated measurements of the same cell may be used to study changes in device performance.
This test method determines the electrical performance of a cell based upon the output power at a single instant of time. It does not provide for integrating the output power over a given period of time and conditions to predict an energy output.
This test method requires a reference cell calibrated with respect to an appropriate reference spectral irradiance distribution, such as Tables E 490, or G 173. It is the responsibility of the user to determine which reference spectral irradiance distribution is appropriate for a particular application.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the electrical performance of a photovoltaic cell under simulated sunlight by means of a calibrated reference cell procedure.
1.2 Electrical performance measurements are reported with respect to a select set of standard reporting conditions (SRC) (see Table 1) or to user-specified conditions.
1.2.1 The SRC or user-specified conditions include the cell temperature, the total irradiance, and the reference spectral irradiance distribution.
1.3 This test method is applicable only to photovoltaic cells with a linear response over the range of interest.
1.4 The cell parameters determined by this test method apply only at the time of test, and imply no past or future performance level.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
TABLE 1 Standard Reporting Conditions
Reference Spectral Irradiance
Distribution | Total Irradiance
(Wm−2) | Temperature
(°C) |
|---|
| Tables G 173 Direct Normal | 1000 | 25 |
| Tables G 173 Hemispherical | 1000 | 25 |
| Tables E 490 | 1366.1 | 25 |
2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) 
The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.
ASTM Standards
E490 Standard Solar Constant and Zero Air Mass Solar Spectral Irradiance Tables
E491 Practice for Solar Simulation for Thermal Balance Testing of Spacecraft
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E772 Terminology Relating to Solar Energy Conversion
E927 Specification for Solar Simulation for Photovoltaic Testing
E973 Test Method for Determination of the Spectral Mismatch Parameter Between a Photovoltaic Device and a Photovoltaic Reference Cell
E1125 Test Method for Calibration of Primary Non-Concentrator Terrestrial Photovoltaic Reference Cells Using a Tabular Spectrum
E1328 Terminology Relating to Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion
E1362 Test Method for Calibration of Non-Concentrator Photovoltaic Secondary Reference Cells
G173 Tables for Reference Solar Spectral Irradiances: Direct Normal and Hemispherical on 37 Tilted Surface
Keywords
cell; performance; photovoltaic; testing; Current measurement--solar devices; Electrical performance--solar devices; Photovoltaic (PV) power systems; Solar collectors; Solar spectral irradiance; Voltage;
ICS Code
ICS Number Code 27.160 (Solar energy engineering)
DOI: 10.1520/E0948-09
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Citing ASTM Standards
[Back to Top]
