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Direct spectral distribution characterisation using the Average Photon Energy for improved photovoltaic performance modelling

Daxini, Rajiv; Sun, Yanyi; Wilson, Robin; Wu, Yupeng

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Authors

Rajiv Daxini

Yanyi Sun

YUPENG WU yupeng.wu@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Building Physics



Abstract

Accurate photovoltaic (PV) performance modelling is crucial for increasing the penetration of PV energy into the grid, analysing returns on investment, and optimising system design prior to investment and construction. Performance models usually correct an output value known at reference conditions for the effects of environmental and system variables at arbitrary conditions. Traditional approaches to correct for the effect of the solar spectrum on performance are based on proxy variables that represent spectral influences, such as absolute air mass (AMa) and clearness index (Kt). A new methodology to account for the spectral influence on PV performance is proposed in this study. The proposed methodology is used to derive a novel spectral correction function based on the average energy of photons contained within the measured solar spectral distribution. The Average Photon Energy (APE) parameter contains information on the combined effects of multiple proxy variables and is not limited by climatic conditions such as cloud cover, as is the case with most traditional models. The APE parameter is shown to be capable of explaining almost 90% of the variability in PV spectral efficiency, compared to around 65% for AMa. The derived APE function is validated and shown to offer an increase of 30% in predictive accuracy for the spectral efficiency compared with the traditional AMa function, and a 17% improvement relative to the AMa-Kt function.

Citation

Daxini, R., Sun, Y., Wilson, R., & Wu, Y. (2022). Direct spectral distribution characterisation using the Average Photon Energy for improved photovoltaic performance modelling. Renewable Energy, 201(Part 1), 1176-1188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.11.001

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 1, 2022
Online Publication Date Nov 21, 2022
Publication Date Dec 1, 2022
Deposit Date Dec 7, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Renewable Energy
Print ISSN 0960-1481
Electronic ISSN 1879-0682
Publisher Elsevier BV
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 201
Issue Part 1
Pages 1176-1188
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.11.001
Keywords Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/14595599
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148122016342?via%3Dihub

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