Electrical Performance Measurement of Concentrator Photovoltaic Modules in Natural Sunlight

In order to assess electrical performance measurement method of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules, a test bed of module I-V characteristics is established in the Institute of Electrical Engineering of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. The relative and absolute output power of CPV modules are measured using test methods of both IEC and ASTM standards. I-V characteristics under Concentrator Standard Test Condition (CSTC) are also compared and analyzed according to on-site I-V test result. This paper also discusses temperature and direct normal irradiance correction procedures, results and problems of relevant IEC standards. An experiment is implemented for calculating and comparing temperature dependence of each electrical parameter of CPV modules.