Thermal resistance of solar cells

Can solar cells withstand temperature changes?

Tailoring solar cells to better withstand and adapt to temperature variations, guided by a deeper understanding of thermal effects, will contribute significantly to the industry's quest for sustainable and efficient solar energy generation.

Can solar cells operate under thermal stress?

In the present article, a state-of-the-art of solar cells operating under thermal stress, at temperatures >100°C, is established. In the following section, physics governing the sensitivity to temperature of solar cells is summarized, with an emphasis on the critical elements for pushing the limits to high-temperature levels.

Can solar cells survive high temperatures?

The fundamental physics governing the thermal sensitivity of solar cells and the main criteria determining the ability of semiconductor materials to survive high temperatures are recalled. Materials and architectures of a selection of the solar cells tested so far are examined.

How does the thickness of a solar cell affect temperature?

The thickness of solar cells, as presented in Table 16, influences their thermal mass, impacting the rate of temperature changes and differences across the cell (Gupta et al., 2019). Thicker cells exhibit higher thermal mass, resulting in slower temperature changes but potentially greater temperature variations within the cell.

How does temperature affect solar cell performance?

They indicate that the sheet resistance increases with temperature and becomes detrimental to the cell performance (particularly the voltage at the maximum power point) at high temperature (300°C–400°C). Joule losses are known to decrease cell performances under solar concentration.

What are thermal effects in solar cells?

Thermal effects in the context of solar cells refer to the changes in their electrical and optical properties due to variations in temperature. As solar cells operate, they invariably generate heat.