Spectral impact on PV in low-latitude sites: The case of southeastern Brazil

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 164; pp. 1306 - 1319
• Main Authors: Neves, Guilherme, Vilela, Waldeir, Pereira, Enio, Yamasoe, Marcia, Nofuentes, Gustavo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Average photon energy; PV Materials; Spectral irradiance; Spectral mismatch factor; Tropical climates; Spectral irradiance; Spectral mismatch factor; Average photon energy; PV Materials; Tropical climates
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.10.128

The spectral impact on various PV materials –amorphous silicon (a-Si), CdTe, CIGS, single crystalline silicon (sc-Si) and multi crystalline (mc-Si)– in two nearby cities of Southeastern Brazil is presented. For every PV technology studied, the values of the spectral mismatch factor on instantaneous, monthly and annual basis were computed by means of spectra recorded over a 12-month experimental campaign carried out in São Paulo and São José dos Campos. A blue-biased however seasonal spectrum prevails in both cities, which leads to annual spectral gains of up to around 6% and 2% exhibited by a-Si and CdTe, respectively. On the other hand, CIGS, sc-Si and mc-Si show negligible annual gains that lie between around −1% and 0%. These results are well aligned with previous findings obtained using both experimental and modelled spectra in other low-latitude sites with tropical climate. Consequently, spectral effects cannot be ignored in such sites, especially when modelling the outdoor behavior of larger bandgap PV devices. Last, a quasi-linear relationship exists between the monthly average photon energy and the monthly spectral mismatch factor for all the PV materials under scrutiny. This conclusion is in good agreement with previous works carried out in mid-latitude sites. [Display omitted] •Spectral impact on PV in two southeastern Brazilian sites investigated.•Twelve-month horizontal spectral irradiance datasets collected at two nearby sites.•Blue-biased prevailing spectra with seasonal behavior.•Annual spectral gains: up to ∼6%/down to −1% for large/small bandgap PV materials.•Results obtained well aligned with previous experimental and modelled findings.