Standard Test Conditions Stc For Solar Panels
Specifically the light intensity is 1000 w m 2 with a spectrum similar to sunlight hitting the earth s surface at latitude 35 n in the summer airmass 1 5 the.
Standard test conditions stc for solar panels. There are three standard test conditions which are. If you want an easy way to compare the efficiency of one solar panel to another look for the stc rating. This includes the cells temperature of 25 77. These testing conditions are called standard test conditions or stc.
Manufacturers use stc testing to ensure that photovoltaic panels with similar energy output can be sold and used together. Stc stands for standard test conditions and is the major solar panel output performance testing condition used by most manufacturers and testing bodies 3 stc is an industry wide standard to indicate the performance of pv modules and specifies a cell temperature of 25 c and an irradiance of 1000 w m with an air mass 1 5 am1 5 spectrum. Test conditions and solar panels standard test conditions stc stc is the set of criteria that a solar panel is tested at. The electric output performance of crystalline silicon and thin film pv modules are generally measured under standard test conditions stc ensuring a relatively independent.
Temperature of the cell 25 c. Because these conditions are the same across the industry one panel s performance metrics such as power rating module efficiency optimal voltage etc can be more accurately compared against other options on. Having set criteria for all solar panels helps to ensure that all panels are held to the same guidelines and essentially that the same rating system is being used across the board. Standard test conditions stc refers to the fixed set of laboratory conditions under which every solar module is tested.
Temperature is the other key test condition everything is at 77 f. Since voltage and current change based on temperature and intensity of light among other criteria all solar panels are tested to the same standard test conditions. But what s standard about them. Stc stands for standard test conditions and are the industry standard for the conditions under which a solar panel are tested.
Well the light source is calibrated to a defined set of wavelengths and so that precisely 1 000 watts per square meter fall on the front glass of the solar panel. By using a fixed set of conditions all solar panels can be more accurately compared and rated against each other. When solar panels undergo performance testing they do so at fixed laboratory conditions known as standard test conditions stc.