Comparison of the effects of spectrum on cadmium telluride and monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic module performance

A comparison of the effects of spectral changes in the atmosphere on cadmium telluride and monocrystalline silicon PV modules was performed using the spectral responsivity of both technologies and the simple model of the atmosphere radiative transfer of sunshine (SMARTS). SMARTS results indicate that spectral shift, sometimes referred to as spectral mismatch factor, has a significant impact on energy yield and should be included in energy modeling for both cadmium telluride and monocrystalline silicon PV modules. The SMARTS results for mono-Si modules were also compared to Sandia model for spectral influence as a function of air mass.