Evaluating Performance Loss and Predicting Efficiency Gain of Bifacial Silicon Solar Cells

In this work we present a streamlined approach towards both performance loss analysis and predicting efficiency gain of large area solar cells. For this purpose, commonly available solar cell characterization techniques are combined with two-dimensional finite element modeling. Careful selection of the test structures enables the extraction of device parameters, such as those related to resistance and recombination. The effect of changing these device parameters can subsequently and easily be calculated. This allows the rapid computation of efficiency improvement scenarios and has great utility in solar cell efficiency improvement programs. As a case study, a series of samples relating to an n-type bifacial Si solar cell is used in this work.