| Abstract: | A model to estimate the short‐circuit current of a solar cell under artificial light from the short‐circuit current of the same solar cell under AM1.5 1 kW/m2 is described. The results may help designers of solar‐powered portable equipment and consumer products working indoors or under a mixture of artificial and sunlight. It is concluded that the ratio of the short‐circuit currents of the same solar cell generated under fluorescent light of 1 lux illuminance divided by the short‐circuit current generated under standard 1 Sun AM1.5 conditions is around 3 × 10−6 for typical crystalline silicon and CIS solar cells. This value is one order of magnitude greater if the light source considered is an incandescent lamp. In the case of amorphous silicon solar cells the value of the ratio is close to 8 × 10−6 either for fluorescent or incandescent lamps. CdTe solar cells are also considered, and this factor is about 4 × 10−6 under fluorescent light, and four times bigger when an incandescent lamp is used. Some measurements performed validate the figures obtained. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
