engineering

Photovoltaics & Solar Energy

Simulate the solar spectrum, I-V curves of photovoltaic cells, module layout optimization, shading losses, and temperature coefficients — the physics that governs how sunlight becomes electricity.

photovoltaicssolar energysolar spectrumI-V curveshadingtemperature coefficientrenewable energy

Photovoltaics is the science of converting photons directly into electric current using semiconductor junctions. Every solar cell obeys the Shockley diode equation, and its performance is bounded by the Shockley-Queisser limit of roughly 33.7% for a single junction. Understanding the interplay between the solar spectrum, cell physics, module geometry, and environmental factors is essential for designing efficient solar installations.

These simulations let you decompose sunlight into its spectral components, trace the I-V characteristic curve of a solar cell, optimize module layout for maximum packing density, quantify shading losses from partial obstruction, and measure how rising temperatures erode cell efficiency. Each artifact reveals a different constraint that real-world solar engineers must navigate daily.

5 interactive simulations

simulator

Solar Cell I-V Curve & Maximum Power Point

Trace the current-voltage characteristic of a solar cell and find the maximum power point — the operating condition where a cell extracts the most energy from sunlight
simulator

Solar Module Layout & Array Optimization

Optimize solar module arrangement on a rooftop — balance row spacing, tilt angle, and azimuth to maximize energy density while avoiding inter-row shading
simulator

Partial Shading & Bypass Diode Losses

See how partial shading on even one cell can collapse an entire module's output — and how bypass diodes limit the damage by routing current around shaded cell strings
simulator

Solar Spectrum & Photon Energy Distribution

Visualize the solar irradiance spectrum from UV to infrared and see which wavelengths a silicon cell can actually absorb — revealing why single-junction efficiency has a hard ceiling
simulator

Temperature Coefficient & Thermal Derating

Watch solar cell efficiency decline as temperature rises — simulate the physics of thermal derating across different cell technologies from silicon to perovskite