Outdoor Performance of PV Technologies in Simulated Automotive Environments

GaAs, monocrystalline Si, and multicrystalline Si modules were tested in a configuration designed to simulate car-roof-integrated mounting. The increase in module temperature above ambient was similar for the four Si modules, but less (~76%) for the GaAs modules. Local temperatures within each module were strongly dependent on the optical properties of the back sheet. The lower operating temperature combined with smaller temperature coefficient of the GaAs modules resulted in higher performance ratios for the GaAs modules even for ambient temperature <; 25°C. The quantification of the relative performance of the modules in a thermal environment relevant to implementation in vehicles provides information for the selection of PV modules for this emerging application.