Contact
Dr. Karsten Bothe
Tel.: +49(0)5151-999 425
E-Mail: k.bothe@isfh.de

Emmerthal (KB). The Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH), an affiliated institute of the “Leibniz Universität Hannover”, is running the Calibration and Test Center (ISFH CalTeC), which is now also accredited for calibrated measurements of solar cells.

The accreditation by DAkkS (“Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle”, accreditation body of the Federal Republic of Germany) confirms the implementation of the requirements of the ISO 17025 standard for the calibration of solar cells according to the IEC60904 standards.

“The accreditation was hard work and had not been possible without decades of experience in measuring efficiencies of innovative solar cells at the ISFH”, says Dr. Karsten Bothe, head of the solar cells and sensors laboratory at ISFH CalTeC.

“This accreditation makes ISFH becoming a member of a small group of affiliations capable to offer this scientific service to industry and research. Precise measurements are a key for a correct energy rating of industrial solar cells and modules”, states Prof. Rolf Brendel, Director of ISFH.

ISFH CalTeC focuses on measurements of wafer-based silicon solar cells with laboratory and industrial formats. Current-voltage (I-V) curves as well as differential spectral responsivity (DSR) are measured on areas up to 160 × 160mm2. The DSR setup comprises a grating monochromator measuring from 280 to 1200 nm in 10 nm steps. Bias light intensities of up to 1100 W/m2 (1.1 suns) are realized by an array of halogen lamps. I-V measurements are performed under illumination with a AAA two lamp solar simulator.