High-Efficiency GaInP/GaAs Tandem Solar Cells for Space and Terrestrial Applications

K. A. Bertness; Sarah R. Kurtz; D. J. Friedman; A. E. Kibbler; C. Kramer; J. M. Olson

doi:10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520540

High-Efficiency GaInP/GaAs Tandem Solar Cells for Space and Terrestrial Applications

K. A. Bertness, Sarah R. Kurtz, D. J. Friedman, A. E. Kibbler, C. Kramer, J. M. Olson

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

34 Scopus Citations

Abstract

GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells are proving to be a highly adaptable, high-efficiency photovoltaic technology. GaInP/GaAs tandem cells have now exceeded all confirmed two-terminal efficiencies for cells of any material combination at one-sun air-mass 1.5 global (AM1.5G) with an efficiency η = 29.5%, at 160-suns AM1.5 direct (AM1.5D) with η = 30.2%, at one-sun AMO with η = 25.7%, and at AMO with η = 19.6% after 1-MeV, 10¹⁵-cm^-2 electron irradiation. These high efficiencies reduce the balance-of-system costs for a photovoltaic power system relative to a system using less efficient cells. This balance-of-system leverage has made this technology competitive in the near term for space and concentrator terrestrial applications even though the GaInP/GaAs cells are relatively expensive. A starting point for these high efficiencies is the high quality of the single-crystal epitaxial material. Recent advances are attributed to improvements in interface passivation layers and cell designs.

Original language	American English
Pages	1671-1678
Number of pages	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520540
State	Published - 1994
Event	Proceedings of the 24th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. Part 2 (of 2) - Waikoloa, HI, USA Duration: 5 Dec 1994 → 9 Dec 1994

Conference

Conference	Proceedings of the 24th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. Part 2 (of 2)
City	Waikoloa, HI, USA
Period	5/12/94 → 9/12/94

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-451-7429

Access to Document

10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520540

Cite this

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title = "High-Efficiency GaInP/GaAs Tandem Solar Cells for Space and Terrestrial Applications",

abstract = "GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells are proving to be a highly adaptable, high-efficiency photovoltaic technology. GaInP/GaAs tandem cells have now exceeded all confirmed two-terminal efficiencies for cells of any material combination at one-sun air-mass 1.5 global (AM1.5G) with an efficiency η = 29.5%, at 160-suns AM1.5 direct (AM1.5D) with η = 30.2%, at one-sun AMO with η = 25.7%, and at AMO with η = 19.6% after 1-MeV, 1015-cm-2 electron irradiation. These high efficiencies reduce the balance-of-system costs for a photovoltaic power system relative to a system using less efficient cells. This balance-of-system leverage has made this technology competitive in the near term for space and concentrator terrestrial applications even though the GaInP/GaAs cells are relatively expensive. A starting point for these high efficiencies is the high quality of the single-crystal epitaxial material. Recent advances are attributed to improvements in interface passivation layers and cell designs.",

author = "Bertness, {K. A.} and Kurtz, {Sarah R.} and Friedman, {D. J.} and Kibbler, {A. E.} and C. Kramer and Olson, {J. M.}",

year = "1994",

doi = "10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520540",

language = "American English",

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note = "Proceedings of the 24th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. Part 2 (of 2) ; Conference date: 05-12-1994 Through 09-12-1994",

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AU - Bertness, K. A.

AU - Kurtz, Sarah R.

AU - Friedman, D. J.

AU - Kibbler, A. E.

AU - Kramer, C.

AU - Olson, J. M.

PY - 1994

Y1 - 1994

N2 - GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells are proving to be a highly adaptable, high-efficiency photovoltaic technology. GaInP/GaAs tandem cells have now exceeded all confirmed two-terminal efficiencies for cells of any material combination at one-sun air-mass 1.5 global (AM1.5G) with an efficiency η = 29.5%, at 160-suns AM1.5 direct (AM1.5D) with η = 30.2%, at one-sun AMO with η = 25.7%, and at AMO with η = 19.6% after 1-MeV, 1015-cm-2 electron irradiation. These high efficiencies reduce the balance-of-system costs for a photovoltaic power system relative to a system using less efficient cells. This balance-of-system leverage has made this technology competitive in the near term for space and concentrator terrestrial applications even though the GaInP/GaAs cells are relatively expensive. A starting point for these high efficiencies is the high quality of the single-crystal epitaxial material. Recent advances are attributed to improvements in interface passivation layers and cell designs.

AB - GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells are proving to be a highly adaptable, high-efficiency photovoltaic technology. GaInP/GaAs tandem cells have now exceeded all confirmed two-terminal efficiencies for cells of any material combination at one-sun air-mass 1.5 global (AM1.5G) with an efficiency η = 29.5%, at 160-suns AM1.5 direct (AM1.5D) with η = 30.2%, at one-sun AMO with η = 25.7%, and at AMO with η = 19.6% after 1-MeV, 1015-cm-2 electron irradiation. These high efficiencies reduce the balance-of-system costs for a photovoltaic power system relative to a system using less efficient cells. This balance-of-system leverage has made this technology competitive in the near term for space and concentrator terrestrial applications even though the GaInP/GaAs cells are relatively expensive. A starting point for these high efficiencies is the high quality of the single-crystal epitaxial material. Recent advances are attributed to improvements in interface passivation layers and cell designs.

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T2 - Proceedings of the 24th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. Part 2 (of 2)

Y2 - 5 December 1994 through 9 December 1994

ER -

High-Efficiency GaInP/GaAs Tandem Solar Cells for Space and Terrestrial Applications

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