Efficiency limits in photovoltaics: Case of single junction solar cells

Abstract

The conversion efficiency of solar energy into electrical energy is the most important parameter when discussing solar cells, photovoltaic (PV) modules or PV power plants. So far many papers have been written to address the limiting efficiency of solar cells, the theoretical maximum conversion efficiency an ideal solar cell could achieve. However, most of the researches modelled sun?s spectrum as a blackbody which does not represent a realistic case. In this paper we have calculated the limiting efficiency as a function of absorbers band gap at standard test conditions using the solar spectrum AM1.5. In addition, the other key solar cells performance parameters (open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density and fill factor) are evaluated while the intrinsic losses in the solar cells are also explained and presented in light of a cell temperature.nema