Assessment of the accuracy of the IEC 61853-1 norm for PV technology

Abstract

This research assesses the accuracy loss of the solar panel conformity assessment, created by the 61853-1 IEC norm. The norm was created to make a more accurate comparison between different solar panels possible, using varying temperature and irradiance conditions instead of only the standard test conditions as a way to determine performance. The norm assumes a scaled Air mass of 1.5 for all irradiances. The accuracy of this assumption is under scrutiny because of the fundamental correlation between Air mass, the solar zenith angle and the irradiance resulting of the former. The assumed Air mass of the norm is compared with data from the SMARTS2 model and measured outdoor data for solar panels on the fixed tilted plane and on a sun tracking plane. The differences are quantified and analyzed. The effect of the difference in spectral distribution is also correlated with the spectral response curves of six different types of semiconductors used in solar panels (CdTe, CIGS, GaAs, Ge, a-Si and c-Si). This research shows that the norm is accurate for a panel on a fixed tilted plane, but can be deemed unreliable for solar panels on a sun tracking plane.