Keithley Instruments’ Solar Cell Testing Survey Reveals Priorities and Best Practices in Test Methods of Solar Cells
Source/Type: Reported News

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

January 25, 2010... Keithley Instruments has published a solar cell testing survey, which it says outlines the priorities and best practices in test methods of solar cells. The Cleveland, Ohio USA-based company conducted a recent survey of solar cell/photovoltaic device researchers and manufacturers working in government, university-based, and corporate labs and manufacturing facilities. The survey indicates distinct differences in testing methods and priorities among respondents from Asia, North America, and Europe. Keithley Instruments, Inc. conducted the study during Summer 2009 using what it says was a by-invitation-only online survey that generated 564 responses. A white paper summarizing the results is available for downloading at no charge from Keithley's website at: http://www.keithley.com/data?asset=52794.

Across all geographies, the survey indicated the industry is focused on improving device efficiencies as the dominant development priority. “Reducing manufacturing cost” was the second most important among the respondents, as might be expected, although substantially less significant than the need to boost device and panel performance. In Keithley's survey, a large majority of respondents worldwide identified their “key parameters” for measurement as short-circuit current (ISC), open-circuit voltage (VOC), maximum output power (PMAX) and, to a lesser extent, conversion efficiency. Respondents in North America and Europe showed consistent agreement on what constitutes their most important tests. Respondents from Asia, while agreeing with the same top four tests, showed much less preference for them as other tests were cited as key parameters nearly as often as the top four. Keithley Instruments News Release

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