TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of current mismatch among individual cells on the performance of perovskite photovoltaic modules
AU - Kim, Chungil
AU - Song, Jiwon
AU - Lee, Subin
AU - Kim, Chanwoo
AU - Seo, Jeongin
AU - Lee, Hangil
AU - Ko, Jaehwan
AU - Byeon, Junseop
AU - Song, Hyung Jun
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
PY - 2025/5/21
Y1 - 2025/5/21
N2 - Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising photovoltaic technology due to their high efficiency and low-temperature processing. However, scaling PSCs into perovskite solar modules (PSMs) faces significant challenges, particularly performance inconsistencies among individual cells, such as short-circuit current (ISC) mismatches. These mismatches can result in localized heating and reduced power output. In this study, we systematically investigated the impact of current mismatch on the performance and reliability of PSMs operated by a central inverter, focusing on variations in ISC across PSCs. Experimental results revealed that even minor ISC mismatches (as low as 2%) can increase the temperature of underperforming cells by up to 8 °C. Theoretical analysis of a PSM with 200 series-connected PSCs showed that power losses correlate with the standard deviation of ISC (σISC). The losses caused by current-mismatch are negligible for a σISC of below 2%, but increase to 12-17% at a σISC of 10%. While bypass diodes can mitigate power losses by maintaining a higher operating current, they cannot fully prevent local heating arising from reverse bias. Alternatively, employing multiple inverters to optimize operating currents for non-uniform cells shows potential, but its economic feasibility remains unresolved. These findings highlight the importance of minimizing σISC to enhance PSM performance and reliability for its commercialization.
AB - Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising photovoltaic technology due to their high efficiency and low-temperature processing. However, scaling PSCs into perovskite solar modules (PSMs) faces significant challenges, particularly performance inconsistencies among individual cells, such as short-circuit current (ISC) mismatches. These mismatches can result in localized heating and reduced power output. In this study, we systematically investigated the impact of current mismatch on the performance and reliability of PSMs operated by a central inverter, focusing on variations in ISC across PSCs. Experimental results revealed that even minor ISC mismatches (as low as 2%) can increase the temperature of underperforming cells by up to 8 °C. Theoretical analysis of a PSM with 200 series-connected PSCs showed that power losses correlate with the standard deviation of ISC (σISC). The losses caused by current-mismatch are negligible for a σISC of below 2%, but increase to 12-17% at a σISC of 10%. While bypass diodes can mitigate power losses by maintaining a higher operating current, they cannot fully prevent local heating arising from reverse bias. Alternatively, employing multiple inverters to optimize operating currents for non-uniform cells shows potential, but its economic feasibility remains unresolved. These findings highlight the importance of minimizing σISC to enhance PSM performance and reliability for its commercialization.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105007929183
U2 - 10.1039/d4ee06180b
DO - 10.1039/d4ee06180b
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105007929183
SN - 1754-5692
VL - 18
SP - 6655
EP - 6666
JO - Energy and Environmental Science
JF - Energy and Environmental Science
IS - 13
ER -
