A soiling measurement device for PV arrays, comprising a clean PV device and a soiled PV device, wherein the soiled PV device is exposed to accumulate soiling, and wherein the clean PV device is maintained clean by a movable cover which normally shields it from accumulation of soiling, and wherein the movable cover opens automatically at periodic intervals for measurement, after which it closes again, and wherein soiling is determined by comparison of measurements from the soiled PV device and the clean PV device. In one embodiment, incident irradiance is measured from the clean device, with or without the presence of the soiled PV device.

A soiling measurement device for PV arrays, comprising a clean PV device and a soiled PV device, wherein the soiled PV device is exposed to accumulate soiling, and wherein the clean PV device is maintained clean by a movable cover which normally shields it from accumulation of soiling, and wherein the movable cover opens automatically at periodic intervals for measurement, after which it closes again, and wherein soiling is determined by comparison of measurements from the soiled PV device and the clean PV device. In one embodiment, incident irradiance is measured from the clean device, with or without the presence of the soiled PV device.

A method for electrical testing of a back contact solar cell applies a first side of a temporary passivation sheet to a frontside of a back contact solar cell, the first side of the temporary passivation sheet comprising at least a transparent dielectric layer. The temporary passivation sheet having a second side opposite the first side and comprising at least a transparent conductive coating. A voltage is applied between the transparent conductive coating and base metallization of the back contact solar cell. The frontside of the back contact solar cell is illuminated through the transparent conductive coating and the transparent dielectric layer. Electrical testing is performed on the back contact solar cell. The temporary passivation sheet is removed from the frontside of the back contact solar cell.

A method for electrical testing of a back contact solar cell applies a first side of a temporary passivation sheet to a frontside of a back contact solar cell, the first side of the temporary passivation sheet comprising at least a transparent dielectric layer. The temporary passivation sheet having a second side opposite the first side and comprising at least a transparent conductive coating. A voltage is applied between the transparent conductive coating and base metallization of the back contact solar cell. The frontside of the back contact solar cell is illuminated through the transparent conductive coating and the transparent dielectric layer. Electrical testing is performed on the back contact solar cell. The temporary passivation sheet is removed from the frontside of the back contact solar cell.

A method and apparatus for testing solar cell performance. The method for testing solar cell performance includes: provide a solar cell; illuminating the solar cell; acquire an illumination intensity of light onto the solar cell; acquire a luminous intensity of light emitted from the solar cell in response to the solar cell being illuminated; and determine the solar cell performance based on the illumination intensity and the luminous intensity.

A method and apparatus for testing solar cell performance. The method for testing solar cell performance includes: provide a solar cell; illuminating the solar cell; acquire an illumination intensity of light onto the solar cell; acquire a luminous intensity of light emitted from the solar cell in response to the solar cell being illuminated; and determine the solar cell performance based on the illumination intensity and the luminous intensity.

Embodiments of this application disclose a design of an inverter and a design of a combiner box, to reduce maintenance costs of a photovoltaic device. According to the inverter or the combiner box provided in the embodiments of this application, when electroluminescence (EL) defect detection is performed on the photovoltaic device, a reverse charging circuit integrated into the inverter or integrated into the combiner box is used to output a direct current to a to-be-tested photovoltaic string of the photovoltaic device. Whether the to-be-tested photovoltaic string has defects is determined based on a light emission status of the to-be-tested photovoltaic string. By using the foregoing designs, maintenance engineers do not need to modify wiring terminals of the photovoltaic device when performing EL defect tests on the photovoltaic device. This helps reduce maintenance costs of the photovoltaic device.

Embodiments of this application disclose a design of an inverter and a design of a combiner box, to reduce maintenance costs of a photovoltaic device. According to the inverter or the combiner box provided in the embodiments of this application, when electroluminescence (EL) defect detection is performed on the photovoltaic device, a reverse charging circuit integrated into the inverter or integrated into the combiner box is used to output a direct current to a to-be-tested photovoltaic string of the photovoltaic device. Whether the to-be-tested photovoltaic string has defects is determined based on a light emission status of the to-be-tested photovoltaic string. By using the foregoing designs, maintenance engineers do not need to modify wiring terminals of the photovoltaic device when performing EL defect tests on the photovoltaic device. This helps reduce maintenance costs of the photovoltaic device.

A method for constructing real-time solar irradiation metering network of gigawatt-level photovoltaic power generation base comprises the following steps: Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of irradiation quantity of the target area is analyzed based on the historical observation data of the irradiation quantity. The outline location of solar irradiation metering stations is determined by dividing the typical areas where the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics are consistent. The detailed location of solar irradiation metering stations is selected based on the center location distribution of photovoltaic power station clustering. A solar irradiation metering device is constructed on the detailed location of the solar irradiation metering station.

A method for constructing real-time solar irradiation metering network of gigawatt-level photovoltaic power generation base comprises the following steps: Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of irradiation quantity of the target area is analyzed based on the historical observation data of the irradiation quantity. The outline location of solar irradiation metering stations is determined by dividing the typical areas where the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics are consistent. The detailed location of solar irradiation metering stations is selected based on the center location distribution of photovoltaic power station clustering. A solar irradiation metering device is constructed on the detailed location of the solar irradiation metering station.