Comparative Study of Modeled and Measured Spectral Irradiance for PV Technology Applications

Recent advancements in photovoltaic (PV) technologies have intensified research interest in understanding how spectral irradiance variations impact energy yield across different climates and atmospheric conditions. This study compares synthesized spectral irradiance from the SMARTS2 model with measurements obtained using a high-resolution silicon-based array spectroradiometer for 7 clear-sky days between November and February in Split, Croatia, a location characterized by a Mediterranean climate. Additionally, spectral mismatch factors are calculated for three PV technologies using both measured and SMARTS2-simulated spectra, employing characteristic spectral response curves for each PV material. The analysis evaluates the accuracy of SMARTS2 in reproducing real-world spectral irradiance distributions and assesses its suitability for estimating spectral mismatch factors, while also providing the first detailed investigation of Split’s unique spectral irradiance characteristics and their implications for PV applications in a Mediterranean climate context. Results indicate the degree of agreement between modeled and measured spectra across different aerosol models included in SMARTS2 typical of the winter season for the location under study.