Simulation of the extra-terrestrial and terrestrial performance of GaAsGe dual-junction solar cells

الملخص EN

The performance of GaAs/Ge dual-junction solar cells is studied in extra-terrestrial and terrestrial conditions using the full simulation approach.

Simulations consist of solar radiation modelling and the electronic transport modelling of each subcell.

Simulation result shows that the efficiency of the solar cells in the extra-terrestrial condition is 31.91%, while in the terrestrial condition, the efficiency is 35.24%.

although the solar cell efficiency in the extra-terrestrial condition is lower, it produces more electricity because a larger amount of solar radiation illuminates the first subcell (GaAs).

it is found that for an area of 1.0 m² of GaAs/Ge solar panel, about 419.2 watts of electric power are generated in the extra-terrestrial condition as compared to 314.34 watts in the terrestrial condition.