Solar

 Radiation
Arno  Smets PVMD
Delft University of Technology
Photovoltaics

Direct  conversion  of  light  into  electricity

Solar  
radiation

Solar  module Electricity

Learning  objectives

• Basic   properties  of  light

• Electromagnetic  spectrum  and    solar  spectrum
• Irradiation  on  earth
• Standard  test  conditions
Photovoltaics

cycles  per  second  =

c =  speed  of  light

=  wavelength
=  frequency
Eph =  photon  energy
h =  planck constant
 Electromagnetic  spectrum
5G 4G 3G Increasing  frequency

1024 1022 1020 1018 1016 1014 1012 1010 108 106 104 102 100

GPS FM AM
Cosmic  
γ-­‐rays X-­‐rays UV IR Long  r adio  waves
rays
Micro  waves Radio  waves

10-­‐16 10-­‐14 10-­‐12 10-­‐10 10-­‐8 10-­‐6 10-­‐4 10-­‐2 100 102 104 106 108

Increasing  wavelength

400 500 600 700

Radiometric  properties

Irradiance  (I)
Incident  power  from  a  radiant  source  per  unit  area  (W·∙m-­‐2)

Irradiation  (ERad)
Incident  energy  from  a  radiant  source  per  unit  area  (Wh·∙m-­‐2)
Radiometric  properties

Irradiance  (I)
Incident  power  from  a  radiant  source  per  unit  area  (W·∙m-­‐2)

Irradiation  (ERad)
Incident  energy  from  a  radiant  source  per  unit  area  (Wh·∙m-­‐2)
Radiometric  properties

Irradiance  (I)
Incident  power  from  a  radiant  source  per  unit  area  (W·∙m-­‐2)

Irradiation  (ERad)
Incident  energy  from  a  radiant  source  per  unit  area  (Wh·∙m-­‐2)

Energy  radiation:
380  x  1021 kW
3.2  x  1027 kWh/year
Radiometric  properties

Irradiance  (I)
Incident  power  from  a  radiant  source  per  unit  area  (W·∙m-­‐2)

Irradiation  (ERad)
Incident  energy  from  a  radiant  source  per  unit  area  (Wh·∙m-­‐2)

Energy  radiation: Earth  receives:

380  x  1021 kW 6  x  1013 kW
3.2  x  1027 kWh/year 10  000    kW/person
2.3  kW/person  (global  use)