With ACAP support, a large area ‘multi-zone’ solar simulator, capable of measuring full size, 6" multi-junction solar cells and mini-modules was installed in 2023 at UNSW’s Solar Industrial Research Facility (SIRF).
The simulator replicates the Air Mass Zero (AM0) solar spectrum, which represents the solar radiation received outside Earth's atmosphere. Prior to this there was no capacity for Australian researchers and spacecraft constructors to measure advanced multi-junction solar cells under reproducible AM0 and AM1.5 conditions and to industry standard precision.
The new solar simulator allows both the industry standard triple junction space solar cells to be measured under the AM0 and AM1.5 solar spectra, and future variants with additional junctions.
A critical facility for ACAP partner RayGen
The facility will play a critical role for ACAP partner RayGen Resources Pty Ltd which builds solar concentrator (CPV) power plants capable of delivering dispatchable solar power 24/7. This is achieved by generating photovoltaic power and collecting the remaining energy as heat in a way that provides a scalable and efficient means of storing electricity in thermal reservoirs.
RayGen use highly efficient III-V multi-junction solar cells that are assembled into modules measuring 10cm x 10cm that have a photovoltaic response from 350nm-1800nm. Until now, that was beyond the range of all other solar simulators located in Australia. The new Multi-Zone Solar Simulator provides controlled, broadband illumination at 1-sun to provide a reference baseline IV measurement.
The UniSim 300 simulator was constructed by TS-Space Systems in the UK and simulates sunlight using a unique combination of broadband lamps and LED-based illuminators. It delivers a beam of 300 mm diameter with a spectral range of 350–1800 nm with four adjustable spectral zones providing close match spectral matching to AM0/1.5G/D.
The instrument was delivered with four spectral zones, making it suitable for measuring up to four-junction solar cells. In the event that a higher number of junctions are required, additional banks of LEDs can be added, allowing the simulator to scale for measurement of cells with any number of junctions.
For any enquiries, please contact Professor Ned Ekins-Daukes
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