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The impact of haze on performance ratio and short-circuit current of PV systems in Singapore

Abstract:

The spectral content of sunlight directly affects the power output of solar photovoltaic (PV) devices. The extent of the effect of seasonal and weather-related spectral variations on the power output will depend largely on the semiconductor bandgap. In this study, haze, which is a common weather condition in many parts of the world, is found to affect the power output of PV systems. An analysis of a recent haze event in Singapore in mid-June 2013 reveals that haze has an impact on the performance ratios and short-circuit currents of PV systems. The performance ratio of amorphous silicon thin-film PV systems dropped during the haze event, while that of crystalline silicon wafer-based systems exhibited a slight increase. A detailed analysis showed that the main cause of the observed performance ratio variations was changes in the generated short-circuit currents, which were due to a red shift of the solar spectrum arriving in the module plane during the haze period. Therefore, PV systems with different semiconductor bandgaps were affected differently.