EN 60904-1-1:2017

Photovoltaic devices - Part 1-1: Measurement of current-voltage characteristics of multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices

IEC 60904-1-1:2017 describes procedures for the measurement of the current-voltage characteristics of multi-junction photovoltaic devices in natural or simulated sunlight. It is applicable to single PV cells, sub-assemblies of such cells or entire PV modules. It is principally intended for non-concentrating devices, but parts may be applicable also to concentrating multi-junction PV devices. An essential prerequisite is the spectral responsivity of the multi-junction devices, whose measurement is covered by IEC 60904-8-1.

Photovoltaische Einrichtungen - Teil 1-1: Messen der Strom-Spannungs-Kennlinien von photovoltaischen (PV) Einrichtungen mit Mehrschichtsolarzellen

Dispositifs photovoltaïques - Partie 1-1: Mesurage des caractéristiques courant-tension des dispositifs photovoltaïques (PV) multijonctions

L'IEC 60904-1-1:2017(fr) décrit les procédures de mesure des caractéristiques courant-tension des dispositifs photovoltaïques multijonctions sous éclairement solaire naturel ou simulé. Elle s'applique aux cellules PV simples, aux sous-assemblages de ce type de cellule ou à des modules PV complets. Elle concerne essentiellement les dispositifs qui ne sont pas à concentration, mais des parties peuvent également être appliquées aux dispositifs photovoltaïques multijonctions à concentration. La sensibilité spectrale des dispositifs multijonctions est une condition préalable indispensable, son mesurage étant couvert par l'IEC 60904-8-1.

Fotonapetostne naprave - 1-1. del: Merjenje karakteristik tok-napetost fotonapetostnih naprav z več spoji

Ta del standarda IEC 60904 opisuje postopke za merjenje karakteristik tok-napetost fotonapetostnih naprav z več spoji pod naravno ali simulirano sončno svetlobo. Uporablja se za posamezne fotonapetostne celice, podsestave teh celic ali celotne fotonapetostne module. Namenjen je predvsem koncentriranim napravam, vendar se lahko deli uporabljajo tudi za koncentrirane fotonapetostne naprave z več spoji. Osnovni predpogoj je spektralna odzivnost naprav z več spoji, katerih meritve so zajete v standardu IEC 60904-8-1.
Zahteve za merjenje karakteristik tok-napetost fotonapetostnih naprav z enim spojem so zajete v standardu IEC 60904-1, ta dokument pa opisuje dodatne zahteve za merjenje karakteristik tok-napetost fotonapetostnih naprav z več spoji.
Ta dokument se lahko uporablja za fotonapetostne naprave, ki so namenjene za uporabo pri koncentriranem sevanju, če so merjene brez optike za koncentracijo in izpostavljene neposrednemu običajnemu sevanju ter se izvede popravek neusklajenosti glede na neposredno običajno referenčno spektralno porazdelitev sevanja. Referenčna spektralna porazdelitev sevanja je navedena v standardu IEC 60904-3

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 07-Sep-2017
• Withdrawal Date: 21-Jun-2020
• ICS: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 82 - Solar photovoltaic energy systems
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 82 - IEC_TC_82
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 08-Sep-2017
• Completion Date: 08-Sep-2017
• Ref Project: SIST EN 60904-1-1:2017 - Photovoltaic devices - Part 1-1: Measurement of current-voltage characteristics of multi-junction photovoltaic devices

Overview

EN 60904-1-1:2017 (identical to IEC 60904-1-1:2017) defines standardized procedures for measuring the current‑voltage (I‑V) characteristics of multi‑junction photovoltaic (PV) devices in natural or simulated sunlight. It applies to single PV cells, sub‑assemblies and complete PV modules and is principally intended for non‑concentrating multi‑junction PV devices. An essential prerequisite for applying this standard is knowledge of the device spectral responsivity, which is specified in IEC 60904‑8‑1.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Measurement scope: Procedures for I‑V characterization of multi‑junction PV devices, supplementing IEC 60904‑1 for single‑junction devices.
• Device types covered: Single cells, sub‑assemblies, entire modules; primarily non‑concentrating devices (some clauses apply to concentrating devices when measured without concentration optics and under direct normal irradiance).
• Apparatus and irradiance: Requirements for solar simulators (both adjustable and fixed spectral irradiance) and for natural sunlight testing.
• Reference devices: Use and requirements for reference solar devices to ensure traceability and repeatability.
• Measurement conditions: Specification of parameters and environmental controls (irradiance, temperature, spectral conditions) required during I‑V testing.
• Spectral responsivity: The standard assumes measured spectral responsivity of each junction (see IEC 60904‑8‑1); essential for interpreting multi‑junction behavior.
• Spectral mismatch and corrections: Guidance to account for spectral mismatch between test source and reference spectral irradiance (reference data in IEC 60904‑3).
• Phenomena affecting results: Recognition of luminescent coupling and identification of the current‑limiting junction (the junction that produces the lowest photocurrent under given illumination).
• Data analysis and reporting: Expectations for processing I‑V data, applying corrections, and reporting results to ensure clarity and comparability.

Applications and users

This standard is practical for:

• PV manufacturers developing multi‑junction cells/modules
• Test and calibration laboratories performing I‑V characterization and certification
• Research institutions evaluating multi‑junction device performance and spectral effects
• Certification bodies and quality assurance teams ensuring consistent, traceable performance data
  Use cases include product development, performance verification under simulated or natural sunlight, and generation of comparable I‑V datasets for reliability and efficiency reporting.

Related standards

• IEC/EN 60904‑1 - I‑V measurement for single‑junction PV devices
• IEC/EN 60904‑3 - Reference spectral irradiance data and principles
• IEC/EN 60904‑7 - Spectral mismatch correction computation
• IEC/EN 60904‑8‑1 - Measurement of spectral responsivity for multi‑junction PV devices
• IEC/EN 60904‑9 - Solar simulator performance requirements

Keywords: EN 60904-1-1:2017, IEC 60904-1-1:2017, multi-junction photovoltaic, I‑V characteristics, spectral responsivity, solar simulator, spectral mismatch, current-voltage measurement.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2017
)RWRQDSHWRVWQHQDSUDYHGHO0HUMHQMHNDUDNWHULVWLNWRNQDSHWRVW
IRWRQDSHWRVWQLKQDSUDY]YHþVSRML
Photovoltaic devices - Part 1-1: Measurement of current-voltage characteristics of multi-
junction photovoltaic devices
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60904-1-1:2017
ICS:
27.160 6RQþQDHQHUJLMD Solar energy engineering
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 60904-1-1

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
September 2017
ICS 27.160
English Version
Photovoltaic devices -
Part 1-1: Measurement of current-voltage characteristics of
multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices
(IEC 60904-1-1:2017)
Dispositifs photovoltaïques -  Photovoltaische Einrichtungen -
Partie 1-1: Mesurage des caractéristiques courant-tension des Teil 1-1: Messen der Strom-/Spannungskennlinien von
dispositifs photovoltaïques (PV) multijonctions photovoltaischen (PV) Einrichtungen mit Mehrschichtsolarzellen
(IEC 60904-1-1:2017) (IEC 60904-1-1:2017)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2017-06-22. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2017 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 60904-1-1:2017 E
European foreword
The text of document 82/1254/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 60904-1-1, prepared by IEC/TC 82 "Solar
photovoltaic energy systems" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 60904-1-1:2017.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at (dop) 2018-03-22
national level by publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with (dow) 2020-06-22
the document have to be withdrawn

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60904-1-1:2017 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is
available here: www.cenelec.eu.

Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60891 -  Photovoltaic devices - Procedures for EN 60891 -
temperature and irradiance corrections
to measured I-V characteristics
IEC 60904-1 -  Photovoltaic devices - Part 1: EN 60904-1 -
Measurement of photovoltaic current-
voltage characteristics
IEC 60904-2 -  Photovoltaic devices - Part 2: EN 60904-2 -
Requirements for photovoltaic reference
devices
IEC 60904-3 -  Photovoltaic devices - Part 3: EN 60904-3 -
Measurement principles for terrestrial
photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with
reference spectral irradiance data
IEC 60904-4 -  Photovoltaic devices - Part 4: Reference EN 60904-4 -
solar devices - Procedures for
establishing calibration traceability
IEC 60904-7 -  Photovoltaic devices - Part 7: EN 60904-7 -
Computation of the spectral mismatch
correction for measurements of
photovoltaic devices
IEC 60904-8 -  Photovoltaic devices - Part 8: EN 60904-8 -
Measurement of spectral responsivity of
a photovoltaic (PV) device
IEC 60904-8-1 -  Photovoltaic devices - Part 8-1: EN 60904-8-1 -
Measurement of spectral responsivity of
multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices
IEC 60904-9 -  Photovoltaic devices - Part 9: Solar EN 60904-9 -
simulator performance requirements
IEC/TS 61836 -  Solar photovoltaic energy systems - - -
Terms, definitions and symbols

IEC 60904-1-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2017-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Photovoltaic devices –
Part 1-1: Measurement of current-voltage characteristics of multi-junction

photovoltaic (PV) devices
Dispositifs photovoltaïques –
Partie 1-1: Mesurage des caractéristiques courant-tension des dispositifs

photovoltaïques (PV) multijonctions

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-4338-1

– 2 – IEC 60904-1-1:2017 © IEC 2017
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 General considerations . 6
5 General measurement requirements . 7
6 Apparatus . 7
6.1 General requirements for irradiance . 7
6.1.1 General . 7
6.1.2 Solar simulator with adjustable spectral irradiance . 8
6.1.3 Solar simulator with fixed spectral irradiance . 8
6.1.4 Natural sunlight . 8
6.2 Reference devices . 8
7 Measurement conditions . 9
7.1 General considerations . 9
7.2 Parameters . 9
7.3 Measurement conditions . 10
8 Measurement of current-voltage characteristics . 11
8.1 Measurement with adjustable spectral irradiance . 11
8.2 Measurement with fixed spectral irradiance and natural sunlight . 11
9 Data analysis . 11
10 Report . 12
Bibliography . 13

IEC 60904-1-1:2017 © IEC 2017 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES –
Part 1-1: Measurement of current-voltage characteristics
of multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60904-1-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82:
Solar photovoltaic energy systems.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
82/1254/FDIS 82/1272/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60904 series, published under the general title Photovoltaic
devices, can be found on the IEC website.

– 4 – IEC 60904-1-1:2017 © IEC 2017
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IEC 60904-1-1:2017 © IEC 2017 – 5 –
PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES –
Part 1-1: Measurement of current-voltage characteristics
of multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices

1 Scope
This part of IEC 60904 describes procedures for the measurement of the current-voltage
characteristics of multi-junction photovoltaic devices in natural or simulated sunlight. It is
applicable to single PV cells, sub-assemblies of such cells or entire PV modules. It is
principally intended for non-concentrating devices, but parts may be applicable also to
concentrating multi-junction PV devices. An essential prerequisite is the spectral responsivity
of the multi-junction devices, whose measurement is covered by IEC 60904-8-1.
The requirements for measurement of current-voltage characteristics of single-junction PV
devices are covered by IEC 60904-1 whereas this document describes the additional
requirements for the measurement of current-voltage characteristics of multi-junction PV
devices.
This document may be applicable to PV devices designed for use under concentrated
irradiation if they are measured without the optics for concentration and irradiated using direct
normal irradiance and a mismatch correction with respect to a direct normal reference
spectral irradiance distribution is performed. The reference spectral irradiance distribution is
provided in IEC 60904-3
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their
content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition
cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
IEC 60891, Photovoltaic devices – Procedures for temperature and irradiance corrections to
measured I-V characteristics
IEC 60904-1, Photovoltaic devices – Part 1: Measurement of photovoltaic current-voltage
characteristics
IEC 60904-2, Photovoltaic devices – Part 2: Requirements for photovoltaic reference devices
IEC 60904-3, Photovoltaic devices – Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial
photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with reference spectral irradiance data
IEC 60904-4, Photovoltaic devices – Part 4: Reference solar devices – Procedures for
establishing calibration traceability
IEC 60904-7, Photovoltaic devices – Part 7: Computation of the spectral mismatch correction
for measurements of photovoltaic devices
IEC 60904-8, Photovoltaic devices – Part 8: Measurement of spectral responsivity of a
photovoltaic (PV) device
– 6 – IEC 60904-1-1:2017 © IEC 2017
IEC 60904-8-1, Photovoltaic devices – Part 8-1: Measurement of spectral responsivity of
multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices
IEC 60904-9, Photovoltaic devices – Part 9: Solar simulator performance requirements
IEC TS 61836, Solar photovoltaic energy systems – Terms, definitions and symbols
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC TS 61836 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
current limiting junction
junction in a multi-junction photovoltaic device in which under given illumination conditions the
lowest photovoltaic current is generated
4 General considerations
The procedure for measurement of the current-voltage characteristics of single-junction PV
devices is described in detail in IEC 60904-1. The procedure for measurement of the current-
voltage characteristics of a multi-junction PV device is based on the same basic principles,
but requires some additional elements, which are described herein.
This document describes the additional considerations, requirements and procedures for the
measurement of the current-voltage characteristics of multi-junction PV devices based on the
measurement principles of single-junction PV devices.
Therefore, the provisions in IEC 60904-1 are also valid for the measurement of multi-junction
PV devices except where explicitly amended by this document.
Multi-junction PV devices consist of two or more series-connected junctions. In general it is
only possible to determine the current-voltage characteristics of the entire device. However, it
may be useful to quantify the photovoltaic current associated with each individual junction and
excessive variation of current with voltage in the current-voltage characteristics between the
short-circuit and maximum-power point that may indicate shunting of each junction. To
understand the performance of a multi-junction device under different spectra it is helpful to
characterize each junction within it.
Luminescent coupling may be present and influence the measurements. For example, light
emitted from a GaInP cell may be absorbed and generate photovoltaic current in an
underlying GaAs junction. Similarly, a photon emitted by a GaAs cell may be absorbed and
generate photovoltaic
...