IEC 60904-3:2008
(Main)Photovoltaic devices - Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with reference spectral irradiance data
Photovoltaic devices - Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with reference spectral irradiance data
IEC 60904-3:2008 describes basic measurement principles for determining the electrical output of PV devices. The principles given in this standard are designed to relate the performance rating of PV devices to a common reference terrestrial solar spectral irradiance distribution. Covers testing in both natural and simulated sunlight. The main changes with respect to the previous edition include an extended wavelength range and the use of uniform wavelength intervals.
Dispositifs photovoltaïques - Partie 3: Principes de mesure des dispositifs solaires photovoltaïques (PV) à usage terrestre incluant les données de l'éclairement spectral de référence
La CEI 60904-3:2008 décrit des principes de mesure pour la détermination de la sortie électrique des dispositifs PV. Les principes indiqués dans la présente norme sont prévus pour relier les caractéristiques de performance des dispositifs PV à une répartition spectrale de l'éclairement solaire terrestre de référence commune. Comprend les mesures effectuées sous éclairement solaire naturel ou simulé. Les principaux changements par rapport à l'édition précédente incluent une extension de la gamme de longueur d'onde et l'utilisation d'intervalles de longueurs d'onde uniformes.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
IEC 60904-3
Edition 2.0 2008-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Photovoltaic devices –
Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) solar devices
with reference spectral irradiance data
Dispositifs photovoltaïques –
Partie 3: Principes de mesure des dispositifs solaires photovoltaïques (PV) à
usage terrestre incluant les données de l'éclairement spectral de référence
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either IEC or
IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.
Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite
ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie
et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.
Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette
publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.
IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: inmail@iec.ch
Web: www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.
About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
ƒ Catalogue of IEC publications: www.iec.ch/searchpub
The IEC on-line Catalogue enables you to search by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical committee,…).
It also gives information on projects, withdrawn and replaced publications.
ƒ IEC Just Published: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published details twice a month all new publications released. Available
on-line and also by email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and electrical terms containing more than 20 000 terms and definitions
in English and French, with equivalent terms in additional languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
Vocabulary online.
ƒ Customer Service Centre: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need further assistance, please visit the Customer Service
Centre FAQ or contact us:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tel.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.
A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.
ƒ Catalogue des publications de la CEI: www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut-f.htm
Le Catalogue en-ligne de la CEI vous permet d’effectuer des recherches en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence,
texte, comité d’études,…). Il donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les publications retirées ou remplacées.
ƒ Just Published CEI: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI. Just Published détaille deux fois par mois les nouvelles
publications parues. Disponible en-ligne et aussi par email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 20 000 termes et
définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles. Egalement appelé
Vocabulaire Electrotechnique International en ligne.
ƒ Service Clients: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv/custserv_entry-f.htm
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette publication ou si vous avez des questions, visitez le FAQ du
Service clients ou contactez-nous:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tél.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
IEC 60904-3
Edition 2.0 2008-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Photovoltaic devices –
Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) solar devices
with reference spectral irradiance data
Dispositifs photovoltaïques –
Partie 3: Principes de mesure des dispositifs solaires photovoltaïques (PV) à
usage terrestre incluant les données de l'éclairement spectral de référence
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
V
CODE PRIX
ICS 27.160 ISBN 2-8318-9705-X
– 2 – 60904-3 © IEC:2008
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
1 Scope and object.5
2 Normative references .5
3 Measurement principles.6
4 Reference solar spectral irradiance distribution .6
Annex A (normative) Use of SMARTS .31
Figure 1 – Reference solar spectral irradiance distribution listed in Table 1 .30
Table 1 – Reference solar spectral irradiance distribution .8
60904-3 © IEC:2008 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES –
Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV)
solar devices with reference spectral irradiance data
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 provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
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 60904-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar
photovoltaic energy systems.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1989. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition are as follows:
− wavelength range extended deeper into the ultraviolet (280 nm instead of 305 nm);
− sunfacing surface considered;
− uniform wavelength intervals used (0,5 nm up to 400 nm, 1 nm up to 1 700 nm, 5 nm up to
4 000 nm); better resolution than in the first edition of 60904-3;
− more representative atmospheric conditions are considered;
− the model used to generate the spectrum has changed from BRITE to SMARTS (version
2.9), which is publicly available.
– 4 – 60904-3 © IEC:2008
In addition, the terminology annex has been removed in the new version because this part is
included in another technical committee 82 document (second edition of IEC TS 61836). The
titles of some clauses have been changed (others have been added) to accord with the usual
structure of IEC standards.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
82/511/FDIS 82/519/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of the IEC 60904 series, published under the general title Photovoltaic
devices, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
60904-3 © IEC:2008 – 5 –
PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES –
Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV)
solar devices with reference spectral irradiance data
1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 60904 applies to the following photovoltaic devices for terrestrial applications:
– solar cells with or without a protective cover;
– sub-assemblies of solar cells;
– modules;
– systems.
NOTE The term “test specimen” is used to denote any of these devices.
The principles contained in this standard cover testing in both natural and simulated sunlight.
This standard is not applicable to solar cells designed for operation in concentrated sunlight
or to modules embodying concentrators.
Photovoltaic conversion is spectrally selective due to the nature of the semiconductor
materials used in PV solar cells and modules. To compare the relative performance of
different PV devices and materials a reference standard solar spectral distribution is
necessary. This standard includes such a reference solar spectral irradiance distribution.
This standard also describes basic measurement principles for determining the electrical
output of PV devices. The principles given in this standard are designed to relate the
performance rating of PV devices to a common reference terrestrial solar spectral irradiance
distribution.
The reference terrestrial solar spectral irradiance distribution given in this standard is required
in order to classify solar simulators according to the spectral performance requirements
contained in IEC 60904-9.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 60891:1987, Procedures for temperature and irradiance corrections to measured I-V
characteristics of crystalline silicon photovoltaic devices
Amendment 1 (1992)
IEC 60904-1, Photovoltaic devices – Part 1: Measurements of photovoltaic current-voltage
characteristics
IEC 60904-2, Photovoltaic devices – Part 2: Requirements for reference solar devices
IEC 60904-7, Photovoltaic devices – Part 7: Computation of spectral mismatch error
introduced in the testing of a photovoltaic device
– 6 – 60904-3 © IEC:2008
IEC 60904-9, Photovoltaic devices – Part 9: Solar simulator performance requirements
3 Measurement principles
In current practice the photovoltaic performance of a solar cell or module is determined by
exposing it at a known temperature to stable sunlight, natural or simulated, and measuring its
current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve while measuring the magnitude of both the incident
irradiance and the PV device temperature. Detailed I-V curve measurement p
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.