Solar Simulator Prototype With Halogen and Light-Emitting Diode Sources

Hybrid solar simulators (SS) using halogen lamps and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), classified as A for spectral match (SM) and temporal instability (TI), are primarily reported for characterizing small solar cells (⁠$160cm2$⁠). However, spatial nonuniformity (SNU) reports are rare. This article presents the characterization of a large-area hybrid SS capable of simulating sunlight intensity and spectrum using a combination of ten white LEDs, six halogen lamps, and 12 power LEDs being three blue (⁠$450nm$⁠), three magenta (⁠$750nm$⁠), and three infrared (⁠$850nm$⁠). This setup ensures homogeneous light distribution over a $600cm2$ surface. The proposed SS was characterized according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC 60904-9) standard, analyzing SM, SNU, and TI. The obtained values (SM = 1.29, SNU = 1.5%, and TI = 0.17%) classify the simulator as BAA. Electrical characterization of a 5W solar panel (⁠$300cm2$⁠) was performed via current–voltage (⁠$I$–$V$⁠) and power–voltage (⁠$P$–$V$⁠) curves under indoor and outdoor conditions. A relative error of less than 4% was found compared to outdoor measurements, making it suitable for photovoltaic device testing. The results demonstrate the feasibility of developing a low-cost SS using incandescent and semiconductor light sources, with the potential for characterizing commercial photovoltaic devices.