ASTM E948-15

Standard Test Method for Electrical Performance of Photovoltaic Cells Using Reference Cells Under Simulated Sunlight

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 It is the intent of this test method to provide a recognized method for testing and reporting the electrical performance of photovoltaic cells.  
5.2 The test results may be used for comparison of cells among a group of similar cells or to compare diverse designs, such as different manufacturers' products. Repeated measurements of the same cell may be used to study changes in device performance.  
5.3 This test method determines the electrical performance of a cell based upon the output power at a single instant of time. It does not provide for integrating the output power over a given period of time and conditions to predict an energy output.  
5.4 This test method requires a reference cell calibrated with respect to an appropriate reference spectral irradiance distribution, such as Tables E490, or G173. It is the responsibility of the user to determine which reference spectral irradiance distribution is appropriate for a particular application.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the electrical performance of a photovoltaic cell under simulated sunlight by means of a calibrated reference cell procedure.  
1.2 Electrical performance measurements are reported with respect to a select set of standard reporting conditions (SRC) (see Table 1) or to user-specified conditions.  
1.2.1 The SRC or user-specified conditions include the cell temperature, the total irradiance, and the reference spectral irradiance distribution.  
1.3 This test method is applicable only to photovoltaic cells with a linear response over the range of interest.  
1.4 The cell parameters determined by this test method apply only at the time of test, and imply no past or future performance level.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2015
• ICS: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering
• Technical Committee: E44 - Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources
• Drafting Committee: E44.09 - Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E948-09 - Standard Test Method for Electrical Performance of Photovoltaic Cells Using Reference Cells Under Simulated Sunlight
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Replaced By: ASTM E948-16 - Standard Test Method for Electrical Performance of Photovoltaic Cells Using Reference Cells Under Simulated Sunlight
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM E1362-15(2019) - Standard Test Methods for Calibration of Non-Concentrator Photovoltaic Non-Primary Reference Cells
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E1040-10(2020) - Standard Specification for Physical Characteristics of Nonconcentrator Terrestrial Photovoltaic Reference Cells
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E2848-13(2023) - Standard Test Method for Reporting Photovoltaic Non-Concentrator System Performance
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E1021-15(2019) - Standard Test Method for Spectral Responsivity Measurements of Photovoltaic Devices
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E2236-10(2019) - Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Electrical Performance and Spectral Response of Nonconcentrator Multijunction Photovoltaic Cells and Modules
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E1125-16(2020) - Standard Test Method for Calibration of Primary Non-Concentrator Terrestrial Photovoltaic Reference Cells Using a Tabular Spectrum
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E772-15(2021) - Standard Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E927-19 - Standard Classification for Solar Simulators for Electrical Performance Testing of Photovoltaic Devices
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E1036-15(2019) - Standard Test Methods for Electrical Performance of Nonconcentrator Terrestrial Photovoltaic Modules and Arrays Using Reference Cells
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E1143-05(2019) - Standard Test Method for Determining the Linearity of a Photovoltaic Device Parameter with Respect To a Test Parameter
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E973-16(2020) - Standard Test Method for Determination of the Spectral Mismatch Parameter Between a Photovoltaic Device and a Photovoltaic Reference Cell
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E948 − 15
Standard Test Method for
Electrical Performance of Photovoltaic Cells Using
1
Reference Cells Under Simulated Sunlight
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E948; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E772Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the elec-
E927Specification for Solar Simulation for Photovoltaic
trical performance of a photovoltaic cell under simulated
Testing
sunlight by means of a calibrated reference cell procedure.
E973Test Method for Determination of the Spectral Mis-
1.2 Electrical performance measurements are reported with
match Parameter Between a Photovoltaic Device and a
respect to a select set of standard reporting conditions (SRC)
Photovoltaic Reference Cell
(see Table 1) or to user-specified conditions.
E1125 Test Method for Calibration of Primary Non-
1.2.1 The SRC or user-specified conditions include the cell
ConcentratorTerrestrial Photovoltaic Reference Cells Us-
temperature, the total irradiance, and the reference spectral
ing a Tabular Spectrum
irradiance distribution.
E1362Test Method for Calibration of Non-Concentrator
Photovoltaic Secondary Reference Cells
1.3 This test method is applicable only to photovoltaic cells
with a linear response over the range of interest. G173TablesforReferenceSolarSpectralIrradiances:Direct
Normal and Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface
1.4 The cell parameters determined by this test method
apply only at the time of test, and imply no past or future
3. Terminology
performance level.
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of terms in this test method
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
may be found in Terminology E772.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
standard.
3.2.1 cell temperature, °C, n—the temperature of the semi-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the conductor junction of a photovoltaic cell.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.2 junction temperature, n—synonym for cell tempera-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ture.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2.3 light source, n—a source of radiant energy used for
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
cellperformancemeasurementsthatsimulatesnaturalsunlight.
2. Referenced Documents
3.3 Symbols:
2
3.3.1 The following symbols and units are used in this test
2.1 ASTM Standards:
method:
E490Standard Solar Constant and Zero Air Mass Solar
2
A—cell area, m
Spectral Irradiance Tables
−1
α —temperature coefficient of reference cell, °C
E491Practice for Solar Simulation for Thermal Balance r
2 −1
C—calibration constant of reference cell, Am W
Testing of Spacecraft
C —transfer calibration ratio, dimensionless
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to T
−2
E—irradiance, Wm
−2
E —standard reporting irradiance, Wm
o
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar,
η—efficiency, %
GeothermalandOtherAlternativeEnergySourcesandisthedirectresponsibilityof
FF—fill factor, %
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
I—current, A
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2015. Published March 2015. Originally
I —monitor solar cell short-circuit current, A
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E948–09. DOI:
m
10.1520/E0948-15.
I —current with respect to SRC, A
o
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
I —reference cell short-circuit current, A
r
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
I —short-circuit current, A
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on sc
the ASTM website. M—spectral mismatch parameter, dimensionless
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E948 − 15
TABLE 1 Standard Reporting Conditions
time. It does not provide for integrating the output power over
Reference Spectral Irradiance Total Irradiance Temperature a given period of time and conditions to predict an energy
−2
Distribution (Wm ) (°C)
output.
Tables G173 Direct Normal 1000 25
5.4 Thistestmethodrequiresareferencecellcalibratedwith
Tables G173 Hemispherical 1000 25
Tables E490 1366.1 25 respect to an appropriate reference spectral irradiance
distribution, such as Tables E490,or G173. It is t
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E948 − 09 E948 − 15
Standard Test Method for
Electrical Performance of Photovoltaic Cells Using
1
Reference Cells Under Simulated Sunlight
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E948; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the electrical performance of a photovoltaic cell under simulated sunlight by
means of a calibrated reference cell procedure.
1.2 Electrical performance measurements are reported with respect to a select set of standard reporting conditions (SRC) (see
Table 1) or to user-specified conditions.
1.2.1 The SRC or user-specified conditions include the cell temperature, the total irradiance, and the reference spectral
irradiance distribution.
1.3 This test method is applicable only to photovoltaic cells with a linear response over the range of interest.
1.4 The cell parameters determined by this test method apply only at the time of test, and imply no past or future performance
level.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E490 Standard Solar Constant and Zero Air Mass Solar Spectral Irradiance Tables
E491 Practice for Solar Simulation for Thermal Balance Testing of Spacecraft
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
E927 Specification for Solar Simulation for Photovoltaic Testing
E973 Test Method for Determination of the Spectral Mismatch Parameter Between a Photovoltaic Device and a Photovoltaic
Reference Cell
E1125 Test Method for Calibration of Primary Non-Concentrator Terrestrial Photovoltaic Reference Cells Using a Tabular
Spectrum
3
E1328 Terminology Relating to Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion (Withdrawn 2012)
E1362 Test Method for Calibration of Non-Concentrator Photovoltaic Secondary Reference Cells
G173 Tables for Reference Solar Spectral Irradiances: Direct Normal and Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of terms in this test method may be found in Terminology E772 and Terminology E1328.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 cell temperature, °C, n—the temperature of the semiconductor junction of a photovoltaic cell.
3.2.2 junction temperature, n—synonym for cell temperature.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
Current edition approved April 1, 2009Feb. 1, 2015. Published May 2009March 2015. Originally approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 20052009 as
E948 – 05a.E948 – 09. DOI: 10.1520/E0948-09.10.1520/E0948-15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E948 − 15
TABLE 1 Standard Reporting Conditions
Reference Spectral Irradiance Total Irradiance Temperature
−2
Distribution (Wm ) (°C)
Tables G173 Direct Normal 1000 25
Tables G173 Hemispherical 1000 25
Tables E490 1366.1 25
3.2.3 light source, n—a source of radiant energy used for cell performance measurements that simulates natural sunlight.
3.3 Symbols:
3.3.1 The following symbols and units are used in this test method:
2
A—cell area, m
−1
α —temperature coefficient of reference cell, °C
r
2 −1
C—calibration constant of reference cell, Am W
C —transfer calibration ratio, dimensionless
T
−2
E—irradiance, Wm
−2
E —standard reporting irradiance, Wm
o
η—efficiency, %
FF—fill factor, %
I—current, A
I —monitor solar cell shor
...