When testing the performance of photovoltaic arrays, the largest source of error in power ratings

is often associated with the instrument and procedure used to quantify the solar irradiance. The
difficulty arises from several sources that produce systematic influences on test results: photo-
voltaic modules respond to only a portion of the solar spectrum as previously illustrated in Figure
5, devices used to measure solar irradiance may respond to all solar wavelengths or to a range
similar to the photovoltaic modules, the optical acceptance angle or view angle of the module may
differ significantly from that of the solar irradiance sensor, the response of both the module and
the solar irradiance sensor vary significantly as a function of the solar angle-of-incidence, and the
solar irradiance sensor and module may be mounted in a different orientations. The concept of
‘effective solar irradiance’ provides a method for addressing these systematic influences and
reduces the difficulty and uncertainty associated with field testing photovoltaic arrays.

The initial objective during field performance testing and I-V curve translation should be to
determine an accurate value for the ‘effective irradiance’ parameter, Ee. The ‘effective irradiance’
is the solar irradiance in the plane of the module to which the cells in the module actually respond,
after the influences of solar spectral variation, optical losses due to solar angle-of-incidence, and
module soiling are considered. Depending on the measured data available and the accuracy
required, the effective irradiance can be determined using four different approaches, as discussed
below.

After the Ee value has been determined using one of these four approaches, the performance
parameters from the measured I-V curve can be translated to obtain the basic performance
parameters at the Standard Reporting (Reference) Condition using Equations (13) through (20). In
turn, the translated parameters can be used in Equations (1) through (10) to calculate expected
array performance at all other operating conditions.

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