Overview
ISO 15387:2005 - Space systems: Single‑junction solar cells - Measurement and calibration procedures defines measurement and calibration requirements for single‑junction space solar cells using the Air Mass Zero (AM0) reference. The standard establishes principles for AM0 standard calibration, measurement of current‑voltage (I‑V) characteristics, spectral irradiance requirements and both primary (extraterrestrial/synthetic) and secondary calibration procedures. It is focused on enabling traceable, repeatable AM0 calibration for space photovoltaic devices.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope: Applies only to single‑junction solar cells intended for space (AM0) conditions.
- Measurement principles: Defines I‑V characteristic measurement methods and parameters (short‑circuit current ISC, open‑circuit voltage VOC, maximum power Pmax, fill factor).
- AM0 standard solar cell requirements: Classification, selection, temperature measurement, electrical connections, calibration, data sheet content, marking, packaging and care.
- AM0 spectral irradiance: Requirements for the reference extraterrestrial spectral irradiance distribution used to define the AM0 standard.
- Calibration methods: Procedures for calibrating AM0 standard cells using extraterrestrial and synthetic techniques, plus calibration of secondary AM0 standard cells (including solar simulator and ground‑sunlight methods).
- Correction and uncertainty: Annexes provide procedures for temperature and irradiance corrections, computation of spectral mismatch error, measurement of spectral response, and uncertainty analysis of AM0 calibration.
- Test equipment performance: Normative annexes specify solar simulator performance, spectral irradiance measurement methods and linearity measurement methods.
- Standard test conditions (STC): Defines AM0 STC (e.g., AM0 irradiance ~1 367 W·m‑2 and cell temperature reference at 25 °C ±1 °C).
Applications and users
ISO 15387:2005 is intended for:
- Space system engineers and satellite power‑subsystem designers needing reliable photovoltaic performance data under AM0 conditions.
- Solar cell manufacturers producing single‑junction cells for space applications who require standard calibration and traceable test methods.
- Calibration laboratories and test houses that perform primary and secondary AM0 calibrations or certify reference cells.
- Research institutions studying space solar cell behavior, spectral response, and degradation in orbital environments.
Practical uses include setting and verifying solar simulator irradiance, producing AM0 reference cells, performing traceable I‑V measurements, implementing spectral mismatch corrections and compiling uncertainty budgets for space photovoltaic qualification.
Related standards
ISO 15387 references and aligns with IEC photovoltaic standards, including:
- IEC 60904 series (I‑V measurement, reference cells, spectral response, spectral mismatch, solar simulator requirements)
- IEC 60891 (temperature and irradiance corrections)
- IEC 61798 (linearity measurement methods)
Keywords: ISO 15387:2005, AM0 calibration, space solar cells, single‑junction solar cells, measurement procedures, I‑V characteristics, spectral irradiance, solar simulator, calibration laboratory.