What is the Appropriate Reference Spectrum for Characterizing Concentrator Cells?

Consensus standards for determining the efficiency of a concentrator cell or module have not been developed. NREL, Sandia National Laboratory, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy in Germany, and the Progress in Photovoltaics Efficiency Table authors have informally agreed upon concentrator-cell reference conditions. These conditions are 25°C cell temperature, 1-sun = 1000 W/m2 total irradiance, and the ASTM E891-87 direct-normal reference spectrum. Deficiencies in the direct reference spectrum are discussed, and a more representative reference spectrum for evaluating concentrator cells is proposed. The spectrum was generated by the SMARTS model, and the atmospheric parameters are as close as possible to the existing direct spectrum, with the exception that the aerosol optical depth at 500 nm is reduced from 0.27 to 0.085.