Gopinath B. et al.

; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology

ISSN: 2454-132X
Impact factor: 4.295
(Volume 5, Issue 1)
Available online at: www.ijariit.com
Survey on performance of different types of solar cells and solar
inverters based on the efficiency
Dr. B. Gopinath K. S. Dhanushiya
[email protected] [email protected]
Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women, Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women,
Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu

R. Dhareene D. Divya
[email protected] [email protected]
Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women, Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women,
Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu

ABSTRACT better than string inverter for its efficiency under shaded
conditions. Micro-inverters also perform better than string
The solar power system consists of solar cells, converter, inverters in production, roof utilization, safety, installation and
inverter, filter, switch mode power supply, load. In that solar maintenance. However, the inverter price, monitoring cost and
cells and inverter plays a vital role in increasing the efficiency payback time of a system using micro-inverters are higher than
of the system. In practice, nearly all photovoltaic energy a system using string inverters [3].
conversion uses semiconductor materials in the form of a p-n
junction to potentially satisfy the requirements for The literature survey also notes that most micro-inverters are
photovoltaic energy conversion. High efficiency under wide designed in the power range of 100–250 W with power
input voltage range of the photovoltaic array is introduced by conversion efficiencies above 90% [2].
two new, components one for DC-DC converter and one
inverter. In this paper, we will compare the types of solar cells 2. SOLAR ENERGY
and the inverter with their specifications. The sun produces heat and light from which solar energy is
utilized. It is one of the most renewable and readily available
Keywords— Solar Cell, Dc-Dc Converters, Inverters, sources of energy on planet Earth. It uses solar panels that are
Semiconductor often arranged on a building or concentrated on solar farms to
1. INTRODUCTION facilitate a reaction that converts the sun’s light radiation into
Nowadays, the potential threat of global climate-enforced, electricity. For absorbing the sunlight solid silicon-crystalline
increasing energy demand and Diminishing non-renewable photo-voltaic (SPV) method is the best [5]
energy have resulted in the usage of renewable energy as an
alternative source of energy. Solar energy is the most promising
source among renewable resources. Investment in research and
development for solar energy is increasing annually under the
support of government to meet CO2 emission regulation, so
Photovoltaic generated solar power is environment-friendly.
Two main obstacles to using solar energy are the high initial
capital costs and conversion efficiency [4].

The direct current (DC) is produced from sunlight through

photovoltaic cells is called solar electricity. The major
appliances in Solar Home System are DC electric appliances
(e.g., lamps, small fans, or televisions). But DC power needs Fig. 1: Graph for target power production of India
heavy cables to transform or transmit and suffer significant
loses [1]. Solar power installed capacity is highly concentrated in certain
states in India. Just five states: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh,
A micro-inverter is a DC/AC converter which is used for a Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, from all these 5 states more
single photovoltaic (PV) panel. The micro-inverter is proved than 67% of power is produced. Solar power plants in Gujarat
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 Gopinath B. et al.; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology
and Rajasthan predate even the National Solar Mission which Voc=0.611 V
now targets having 100 GigaWatts of solar power capacity by Isc=3.5 A
March 2022. All Indian states in terms of operational solar FF=0.7
power capacity Tamil Nadu leads now. In March 2022 the Pin=10 W
Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) Pmax=1.1762 W
proposed to increase the share of renewable energy in its Efficiency= 14.9695%
electricity mix to 25.25%. Indian regulations call for separate
renewable purchase for solar and non-solar technologies. As 4. MONOCRYSTALLINE SOLAR CELL MONO-SI)
per APERC for non-solar renewable energy technologies has Monocrystalline shows the highest conversion efficiency of all
proposed a target of 12.50% by March 2022. The commission silicon solar cell but the production of monocrystalline silicon
has also proposed in 2021-22 to increase the solar power share wafers requires the large investment fund. In the laboratory
from 4.75% in 2017-18 to 12.75% studies, a single solar efficiency reaches the order of 24%.
Mono-Si serves as photovoltaic, light absorbing material in the
3. SOLAR CELLS manufacture of solar cells. The MONO-SI consists of silicon in
Solar panels convert 15% of sunlight into electricity. It converts which the crystal lattice of the entire solid is continuous,
sunlight into electricity, either directly or indirectly. In the unbroken to its edges, and free of any grain boundaries. Silicon
direct method it uses photovoltaic (PV).in the indirect method, mono crystals up to 2 meters in length and weighing several
it uses concentrated solar power (CSP). It is a green source of hundred kilograms are grown by the Czochralski process. For
energy. Solar power is an unlimited and inexhaustible resource. further processing, these cylinders are then sliced into thin
As technologies improve and the material used in the PV panel wafers of a few hundred microns. The most important
become “greener”, the carbon footprint of solar power becomes technological material of the last few decades are Single-crystal
smaller and smaller the technique becomes more accessible to silicon —the "silicon era", because its availability at an
the masses. [6] affordable cost has been essential for the development of the
electronic devices on the present day electronic and informatics
To maximize the photovoltaic array output power Maximum revolution is based. Monocrystalline silicon differs from other
Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is used in Photovoltaic (PV) allotropic forms, such as the non-crystalline amorphous
systems, irrespective of the temperature and irradiation silicon—used in thin-film solar cells, and polycrystalline
conditions and of the load electrical characteristics. The main silicon, that consists of small crystals, also known as
difference between the method used in the MPPT system and crystallites. [10, 11]
other techniques is that the PV array output power is used to
directly control the dc/dc converter, thus reducing the
complexity of the system. The resulting system has high
efficiency, lower-cost and can be easily modified to handle
more energy sources [5].

3.1 Types of solar cells and application

Solar cells are typically named based on the semiconducting
material they are made of. Certain characteristics are necessary
for the semiconductor material in order to absorb sunlight with
high efficiency. Some cells are designed to handle sunlight that
reaches the Earth's surface, while others are optimized for use
in space.
Fig. 2: Monocrystalline silicon
The classification of Solar cells is first, second and third
generation cells. 5. POLYCRYSTALLINE SOLAR CELL (MULTI-SI)
 The first generation cells also called conventional, Polycrystalline silicon solar cells are made of large blocks of
traditional or wafer-based cells that includes materials such silicon. They are produced in special crucibles, which slowly
as polysilicon and monocrystalline silicon. cool down the molten silicon to make the growth of
 Second generation cells are thin film solar cells, that include polycrystalline with large grains. Next blocks are cut on the
amorphous silicon, are commercially significant in utility- wafer by sawing. Polycrystalline cells are less efficient than
scale photovoltaic power stations monocrystalline, but their production cost is lower, due to the
 The third generation of solar cells includes as Bio-hybrid skip of energy-intensive manufacturing single crystal. [11]
Solar Cell, Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell (CdTe)
Concentrated PV Cell (CVP and HCVP)[10].

3.2 Calculation of solar cell efficiency

The efficiency of a solar cell is determined as the fraction of
incident power which is converted to electricity:
𝑉𝑂𝐶 𝐼𝑆𝐶 𝐹𝐹
𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 =
𝑃𝑖𝑛
𝑉𝑚𝑝 𝐼𝑚𝑝
𝐹𝐹 =
𝑉𝑂𝐶 𝐼𝑆𝐶

For example: The input power for the efficiency calculation for
100100 mm2 cell is 10W and for a 156156 mm2 cell is
24.3W. Fig. 3: Polycrystalline silicon
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 Gopinath B. et al.; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology
Table 1: Comparison of solar cells
Types Mono Crystalline Poly Crystalline Thin film Concentrated PV cell (CVP)
Efficiency 15%-24% 12%-16% 7%-13% 41%
It has a uniform appearance. These solar cells have a It is larger in size and It uses lenses and curved
Appearance It made with solar cells multifaceted, non- has a uniform solid mirrors to focus sunlight
typically have either a white uniform, gem-like surface black appearance onto small, but highly
or black sheet and blue in colour efficient, multi-junction
It conducts more efficient Less efficient but less cost. Thin film solar panels No moving parts,
Features electricity and performs There is less silicon waste are used flexible, efficiencies more than 40%,
better in high temperatures in the manufacturing portable. Shorter life reduction in the cost of cells
process span
To produce more electrical Limit the amount of space Lowest costs per Higher system efficiency
Application power rated power without greater cost

6. AMORPHOUS SILICON SOLAR CELL (A-SI)

Amorphous silicon (a-Si) is the non-crystalline form of silicon.
It is the most well developed thin film technologies have been
on the market for more than 15 years. Amorphous silicon is
used in pocket calculators, but it also powers some private
homes, buildings, and remote facilities. Amorphous silicon can
also be deposited at very low temperatures, as low as 75
degrees Celsius, which allows for deposition on plastic as well
[10]. Amorphous silicon module efficiencies are in the range
4% to 8% to developed light, flexible A-Si modules perfectly
suitable for flat and curved surfaces very small cells at
laboratory level may reach efficiencies of 12.2% [12] Fig. 5: Concentrated PV cell

8. THIN FILM SOLAR CELL

There are three main thin film solar cell technologies:
amorphous silicon (α-Si), copper indium gallium selenide
(CIGS), and cadmium telluride (CdTe). To include the wafer,
thin film and organic, several solar technologies have been
researched to achieve reliability, cost-effectiveness and high
efficiency. To make up to 90% of the market, for instance,
crystalline silicon has been very successful from the laboratory
to commercial integration, and to Cost-effectiveness is less by
use of less material and also increasing energy conversion
efficiency. While wafer technology is capable of meeting the
high-efficiency goal, the thin film can satisfy minimum
Fig. 4: Amorphous Silicon material usage as well. [13]

Cadmium Telluride and Concept of Multi-junction

The CdTe stands for the combination of tellurium and
cadmium, combined together to produce cadmium telluride
(CdTe) [6]. The material is cheaper when compared to the
silicon but also less efficient. As it contains the heavy metal
cadmium, the take back of the modules after reinstallations. At
present, a maximum degree of efficiency of 16% is achieved.
[12]

7. CONCENTRATED PV CELL (CVP AND HCVP)

In this plant, sunlight is focused on a heat exchanger; the
turbine is driven by the heat. The problems with these
technologies are inefficiency and it is high cost. The typical
efficiency of a CSP is about 15%. The highest efficiency of a
silicon cell, for example, is 20%. Concentrated photovoltaic
(CPV) cell is the hybridization of the both direct and the
indirect solar power systems. To get highly efficient solar cells Fig. 6: Thin film solar cell
such as the multi-junction solar cell (about 40% efficient) the
CPV, concentrated solar flux (about 300 suns) is focused. This 9. SOLAR INVERTERS
results in a superior output many times that of the ordinary Solar panels output Direct Current (DC). As DC electricity is
photovoltaic’s. CPV is replaced with mirrors and lenses made not compatible with common household appliances nor fed into
of cheap glass in CPV. The total efficiency of the entire system the mains grid, it first needs to be converted to Alternating
is about 35%. [14] Current (AC). There are three different types of grid-tied with
solar inverters such as micro, string and central.

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 Gopinath B. et al.; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology
9.1 Microinverters 9.3 Central inverter
Microinverters are power electronic devices that convert DC Large solar plants integrate into AC grid by central inverter
power from a low power source, such as a solar panel, to AC installation. These solar plants are constructed using a series-
power, such as that used in homes. The main advantage of parallel string combination of PV modules. Own maximum
using a microinverter system to a string inverter system is that power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm on each parallel string
microinverters isolate light obstructions and faults from solar of PV modules. Without an internal transformer and has a DC-
panels in the entire system [7]. Most important characteristics DC converter as an intermediate stage, the central inverter is
are: installed. This DC-DC converter reduces the requirement of
(a) A reduced number of semiconductor devices, while keeping high voltage gain in the inverter and increases the power
an increased number of levels at the output. conversion efficiency. Cloud shading, partial shading (due to
(b) A sole DC source without the need to balance capacitor any obstacle on solar panel), and malfunction of any parallel
voltages. PV string completely shut down the power generation from the
(c) Reduced semiconductor losses. central inverter. Each string of solar PV modules requires DC
cable for connecting to the central inverter and hence
These three advancements compose the highly efficient introduces considerable DC cable loss in the system [8].
microinverter for use in industrial, commercial, and residential
photovoltaic systems.

Fig. 7: Micro Inverters

9.2 String inverters

In the U.S. String inverters are the most cost-effective inverter. Fig. 9: Central Inverters
Solar installation companies will generally offer you a system
with a string inverter if your roof is not shaded at any point Table 2: Comparison of a different parameter of different
during the day and does not face in multiple directions [9]. inverters
DC side of the inverters
The solar panels are arranged into groups connected by Parameters String Inverter Central Inverter Micro Inverter
“strings.” Each string of panels is connected to a single Maximum
300 KW 300 KW 265 KW
inverter, which transforms the DC electricity produced by the input power
panels into appliance-friendly AC electricity. Input voltage 300-480 V 450-750 V 25-60 V
MAX voltage 600 V 900 V 65 V
It is a tried-and-true technology, for certain types of MAX current 867 A 600 V 10.5A (usage)
installations is not suitable. That entire string would be reduced
to its level when a string of solar panels will only produce as AC side of the inverters
much electricity as its least productive panel – if one or more of Parameter String Inverter Central Inverter Micro Inverter
your solar panels is shaded during any part of the day, the Nominal
250 KW 250 KW 250 KW
power output from For this reason, if your solar panels are output voltage
installed facing different directions, a string inverter may not be 60 Hz
Frequency 50/60 Hz 57-60.5Hz
(+0.5Hz/-0.7Hz)
a good choice [9].
Power factor >0.99 >0.99 >0.95
One of the most common reasons for a panel to produce less TRD :2.0%
THD < 5% < 3%
power or to stop the power producing altogether is shading TDD : 1.3%
from nearby objects. If your roof is prone to shading any time Output voltage 480 300 183-228
during the day or in certain seasons, you could either remove
the source of the shade (e.g. cut down a tree) or install the 10. CONCLUSION
panels where they will not be shaded. The output of a photovoltaic system is:
𝐸 = 𝐴 × 𝑟 × 𝐻 × 𝑃𝑅
In the above formula the 'r' is the solar panel efficiency, so the
output of the solar power system is majorly depends on the
cells efficiency as per the above comparison table the
concentrated PV cells has high efficiency when compare to
other cells. The output of the solar power system is not only
depends on the cell but also the inverter performance. In the
above equation 'PR' ,is the performance ratio (range between
0.5 and 0.9, default value = 0.75), this ratio is determine by
varies factors but predominantly depends on the inverter. The
Micro-inverters have the higher efficiency, warranty, even
Fig. 8: String Inverter when some panels are shaded the performance is high. So the

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 Gopinath B. et al.; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology
combination of the concentrated PV cell with the micro Department of Electrical and Electronics Thiagarajar
inverters will improve the efficiency of the overall system up to College of Engineering Madurai
17% approximately. email:[email protected]
[7] Design of a Highly Efficient Microinverter Omar
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