How to calculate the efficiency of a module manually?

[nidalls]

Hi :')

I want to ask about how to calculate the efficiency of a solar panel ?
η = pout / pin




now how to calculate Pin ?!
I know that "the input power for a 100 × 100 mm2 cell is 10 W and for a 156 × 156 mm2 cell is 24.3 W"
For yingli solar "YL310P-35b" as an example.



η = 309.639 / Pin

Pin ٍshould i calculate it based on the are mentioned in the data sheet (area of the cells with the frame)
0.99*1.960 (Width * Length) * 1000 = 1940.4
then η = 0.16

or should i calculate it as follows:
" 6 * 12 (number of cells in the module) * 24.3 W (the input power for a 156 × 156 mm2 cell) = 1749.6W
then η = 0.18


In the datasheet the efficiency equals to 16%, why they have used the area of the solar panel with the frame to calculate the efficiency while the frame actually is not used in the conversion of radiation into energy ؟

[J.P.M.]

That depends on what you want to measure and how sophisticated you want to get.

For starters and the basics, you will need pyranometer data (that measures irradiance), a way to convert that Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) to Plane of Array Irradiance (POA), and some way to estimate a representative array average temp. The POA X array area will give you input, or Pin.

[nidalls]

I want to calculate the efficiency of a solar panel in standard conditions.
"STC: 1000W/m2 irradiance, 25°C module temperature, AM1.5g"
Where the irradiance is 1000W/m2,

I have a misunderstanding of how to calculate the efficiency of the solar panel, do i calculate it based on area of cells with an area of the frame (1.9404m2) , or only the are of the cells (1.75 m2) ?

[inetdog]

One problem with trying to measure the STC characteristics of a solar panel is that you have to light it up without heating it above 25C. That is typically done in the labs using a very bright flash source and looking at the output pulse from the panel.
If you are using sunlight you will either need to cool the panel or calculate how to normalize the output from real temperature to STC temperature.

[ButchDeal]

I want to calculate the efficiency of a solar panel in standard conditions.
"STC: 1000W/m2 irradiance, 25°C module temperature, AM1.5g"
Where the irradiance is 1000W/m2,

I have a misunderstanding of how to calculate the efficiency of the solar panel, do i calculate it based on area of cells with an area of the frame (1.9404m2) , or only the are of the cells (1.75 m2) ?

If you are looking for module efficiency then area of the module.

[ButchDeal]

Hi :')

I want to ask about how to calculate the efficiency of a solar panel ?
η = pout / pin




now how to calculate Pin ?!
I know that "the input power for a 100 × 100 mm2 cell is 10 W and for a 156 × 156 mm2 cell is 24.3 W"
For yingli solar "YL310P-35b" as an example.



η = 309.639 / Pin

Pin ٍshould i calculate it based on the are mentioned in the data sheet (area of the cells with the frame)
0.99*1.960 (Width * Length) * 1000 = 1940.4
then η = 0.16

or should i calculate it as follows:
" 6 * 12 (number of cells in the module) * 24.3 W (the input power for a 156 × 156 mm2 cell) = 1749.6W
then η = 0.18


In the datasheet the efficiency equals to 16%, why they have used the area of the solar panel with the frame to calculate the efficiency while the frame actually is not used in the conversion of radiation into energy ؟

Because you are talking about theeffiviency of the module wich includes the frame.

[nidalls]

ButchDeal thank you,,
But I still do not understand why we calculate the area of the frame while the light falling on it not being exploited already

[ButchDeal]

ButchDeal thank you,,
But I still do not understand why we calculate the area of the frame while the light falling on it not being exploited already

because the frame is part of the module. Some have smaller frames that cover less of the front thus higher module efficiency.
If you are trying to cover an area on your roof the frame takes up space.
If you want the cell efficiency then look up the cell efficiency
if you want module efficiency it includes the frame, and all spaces between the modules etc. Other wise it wouldn't be the MODULE efficiency.

The efficiency is really ONLY telling you how much space is required to generate a fixed amount of power, nothing more.

[nidalls]

Thank you very much 😀
Very clear explanation 👍