Component
Solar cell
- ID
comp:solar-cell- IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/comp/solar-cell- Status
- active
- Also known as
- photovoltaic cell, PV cell
The solar cell is the silicon device inside a PV module that turns light into electric current. Many cells are joined together and embedded in each module. Cells are made of silicon, which makes them very brittle. One reference example is a monocrystalline silicon cell. The front glass protects the cells from the outside environment. If the glass breaks, moisture can reach the cells, which speeds up degradation and can cause hotspots. Cell cracks can form during wafer slicing, stringing, transport and installation. Wind, snow and temperature swings can make cracks grow until parts of the cell become inactive. Light-induced degradation (LID and LeTID) happens at the cell level. It mainly affects p-type boron-doped cells and shows up as lower STC power, current and voltage early in the system's life. Cracking, shading or mismatch can push a cell into reverse bias, so it heats up as a hot cell or hotspot. This can lead to discoloration, interconnection failures, delamination and glass breakage. Dust on the glass scatters and absorbs light before it reaches the cells, so module current drops. The IEC 61215-2 MQT 09 hot-spot endurance test checks how well cells and module materials withstand localized heating. Manufacturers also sort cells by current and screen out cells with low shunt resistance.
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- sentence 1: support check: partial - Passage says cells are silicon and many are embedded in a module, but does not state that they turn light into electric current (definition) in these passages.
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Claims
typical_power_loss
c1 verified · fact
1–3 PERCENT
Conditions: Boron-oxygen LID in p-type crystalline silicon cells, within the first days of sun exposure
The annex says LID affects mainly p-type boron-doped cells. Gallium-doped and n-type cells are much less affected or not affected.
verified by: joshuahamsaverified on: 2026-10-20review note: reviewer: the compiler-flagged conflict is a different scenario or technology, not disagreement
c2 verified · fact
≤ 10 PERCENT
Conditions: LeTID in crystalline silicon cells (first seen with PERC), at elevated temperatures above 50°C; adds to LID loss
verified by: joshuahamsaverified on: 2026-10-20
c3 verified · fact
≤ 10 PERCENT
Conditions: LeTID in multicrystalline cells, at active temperatures above 65°C, in specific conditions
verified by: joshuahamsaverified on: 2026-10-20
c4 verified · fact
≤ 30 PERCENT
Conditions: Light-induced degradation (light soaking effect) of module power, as reported in a general overview
verified by: joshuahamsaverified on: 2026-10-20
c6 verified · fact
≥ 10 PERCENT
Conditions: Nearly half of 159 modules (165 Wp) in one solar park with cell cracks, after 6 years of operation
verified by: joshuahamsaverified on: 2026-10-20review note: reviewer: the compiler-flagged conflict is a different scenario or technology, not disagreement
temperature_rise
c5 verified · fact
≤ 25 DEG_C
Conditions: Hot cell in an IBC half-cell module compared with module temperature, in an indoor hot-spot test at 55°C module temperature per IEC 61215-2:2021
The IBC cell's built-in Zener diode acts as a bypass diode and lowers the breakdown voltage.
verified by: joshuahamsaverified on: 2026-10-20
Referenced by
Data