Solar Simulator Prototype With Halogen and Light-Emitting Diode Sources

Abstract

Hybrid solar simulators (SS) using halogen lamps and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), classified as A for spectral match (SM) and temporal instability (TI), are primarily reported for characterizing small solar cells (160cm2). However, spatial nonuniformity (SNU) reports are rare. This article presents the characterization of a large-area hybrid SS capable of simulating sunlight intensity and spectrum using a combination of ten white LEDs, six halogen lamps, and 12 power LEDs being three blue (450nm), three magenta (750nm), and three infrared (850nm). This setup ensures homogeneous light distribution over a 600cm2 surface. The proposed SS was characterized according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC 60904-9) standard, analyzing SM, SNU, and TI. The obtained values (SM = 1.29, SNU = 1.5%, and TI = 0.17%) classify the simulator as BAA. Electrical characterization of a 5W solar panel (300cm2) was performed via current–voltage (I–V) and power–voltage (P–V) curves under indoor and outdoor conditions. A relative error of less than 4% was found compared to outdoor measurements, making it suitable for photovoltaic device testing. The results demonstrate the feasibility of developing a low-cost SS using incandescent and semiconductor light sources, with the potential for characterizing commercial photovoltaic devices.