Industry - Solar & Renewable Energy

Empowering Next-Gen Solar Energy Providers

Shine light on your sustainable technology

Solar Simulation Trusted By These Companies

Reliable Validation of Renewable Technology Performance

Whether you are manufacturing solar modules for homeowners and businesses around the world, engineering grid-connected photovoltaic power plants, or making solar-driven thermochemical fuel, you’re a leader in renewable energy implementation, and people are counting on you to deliver.

Energy capture and production needs to be reliable, and that includes everything from grid integration to solar cell performance. You need to measure cell-to-module (CTM) loss, increase energy yield, and lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Your automated Quality Control (QC) processes need stable, long-term throughput.

G2V’s Class AAA LED solar simulators provide exceptional spectral match and long-term spectral reliability, so you’ll get the most accurate and repeatable test results.

You’re building the future. We’ll provide the light.

Keeping Pace With Photovoltaic Developments to Bring the Best to Market

You’re bringing the latest research into the commercial world, making them accessible to the broader public. You want to bring the very best, and for that, you have to deeply understand the science and the ongoing progress.

Our comprehensive photovoltaics article looks at:

Context of Photovoltaics in the world
Photovoltaic cell theory
Economics of Silicon vs. other solar cell types
Best Testing Practices
Some of the latest photovoltaic research developments

Read the entire article here

Featured Innovations

Engineered lighting as reliable as the sunrise

You’re building something great. Our solar replication technologies mean you don’t have to worry about accurate light.

Variable spectra module allows you to probe specific sub-junctions
One-click sun software allows you to produce any terrestrial spectra with the click of a button
IV and EQE hardware modules aid in automating characterization of solar cells
Small form factor can easily integrate into existing spaces and production setups

Characterize your PV devices with high-quality sunlight.

Stable LED technology with low drive currents to maximize lifetime and reliability
Large Class A uniform area, starting from 400 cm2 and larger to accommodate any scale of production
Excellent spectral match that minimizes excess heating of modules
Python API and LabView DLL for automated test cycling and production lines

How the Sunbrick Helped Rayleigh Solar Tech Commercialize Perovskites

Problem: Dr. Sam March, co-founder of Rayleigh Solar Tech, had demonstrated his perovskite technology in the lab at a 1” x 1” scale, but he needed a reliable larger-area solution to reach commercialization.

Innovation: G2V’s Sunbrick provided the large area, reliable solar simulation that Dr. March needed.

Outcome: The G2V Sunbrick was integrated into a testing chamber design that has enabled Rayleigh to quickly progress in their perovskite module testing and commercialization for use in electric vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What automated device testing throughput can I expect from your solar simulator?

G2V doesn’t currently provide automated testing solutions out of the box. However, there is a Python API (included with the Sunbrick and the Pico’s Variable Module) and a LabView DLL (Sunbrick only) so customers can implement a scripted automated solution that fits their needs. We’re always happy to work collaboratively to ensure the fit is right. Furthermore, we’re always building out and planning our future product roadmap; any feature suggestions you have are welcome!

Are your solar simulators calibrated with a “gold” cell (calibrated through a third-party lab) or a “silver” cell (calibrated by cross-referencing a detector against a “gold” cell)?

All of our solar simulators are currently calibrated using several detectors calibrated by a third-party lab, which qualify as “gold” cells, all of which are metrologically traceable to NIST. This is done to reduce the reliance on a single source and achieve a calibration closer to the world average. In the future, we may introduce some comparisons against “silver” cells, but that information will be communicated transparently in the metrology section of our extensive QC reports.

What lifetime can I expect from an LED solar simulator?

Reported LED lifetimes range from 10,000 to 100,000 hours depending on manufacturer and conditions. Most reported lifetimes are for LEDs driven at maximum current. We design our solar simulators to drive LEDs at lower currents, which results in the LEDs performing closer to the maximum of their lifetime range. Our solar simulators are rated for 10,000 hours and covered by a full two-year warranty.

What is the resolution of the external quantum efficiency (EQE) module?

The EQE module (only available with our Pico product) uses individual LEDs to probe a device’s spectral responsivity, and as such, the resolution of the resulting EQE curve is limited to the wavelengths of the LED types used in the solar simulator. While you won’t achieve nanometer resolution from our EQE module, you will get a low-resolution snapshot (between 25 nm to 100 nm on average) that still contains valuable device information.

Is there an option to add IV characterization with the solar simulator?

The IV module is currently only available with the small area solar simulator, the Pico, but an IV module solution for the Sunbrick is currently on G2V’s product development roadmap. In the meantime, we recommend pairing Sunbricks with a source meter such as a Keithley 2400 series.

How many busbars can I test with your solar simulator?

Our solar simulators will illuminate their specified areas with Class A spatial non-uniformity (Sunbrick providing large area, Pico for small areas), so the number of busbars is ultimately limited by the size of the individual solar cells you’ve connected on a busbar. If you are concerned about micro-features in the illumination field, get in touch and we can discuss the resolution of our validation measurements and whether a higher-resolution spatial measurement may mitigate your concerns.

Knowledge Base

Our Expertise. Your Home Base.

We make sure that our customers have access to resources that help them understand more not only about the products we offer, but relevant applications and standards. Visit the knowledge base to learn more about LED illumination, Class AAA standards, Photovoltaics and much more. Knowledge is solar power.

Photovoltaics Solar Cells

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SWITCH Materials: Photochromic-Electrochromic films – Customer Story

Let's Talk

Talk to a Photonics Expert About Your Renewable Energy Solar Testing

If you are a solar start-up looking to get the right equipment to scale up to a production line, are looking for a way to upgrade your QC processes, or your module quality is slipping and you need a reliable source to double-check your results, please get in touch with our team of experts.

We love to work with our clients as partners and ensure you are getting the reliable solution you need for your unique requirements. We’re as curious and excited as you are about ushering in more sustainable energy at a global scale. Get in touch to discuss how G2V can help you bring the highest-quality energy solutions to humanity.