Comparative evaluation of solar photovoltaic cell technologies across Türkiye’s climatic regions: A PVsyst simulation-based analysis

Muhammed Fatih Saltuk

doi:10.59400/esc3850

Comparative evaluation of solar photovoltaic cell technologies across Türkiye’s climatic regions: A PVsyst simulation-based analysis

Muhammed Fatih Saltuk
Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye, Istanbul 34768, Turkey

Article ID: 3850

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/esc3850

Keywords: PV cell technology, renewable energy, PV cell performance, PVsyst, performance optimization

Abstract

Over the past fifteen years, solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies have become a part of the global energy transition, primarily driven by sustained reductions in capital costs. This rapid deployment has intensified the need for robust, technology-specific performance assessments under diverse climatic conditions. This study presents a comparative evaluation of three crystalline silicon PV cell technologies, which are Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC), Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon), and Silicon Heterojunction (SHJ/HJT), across Türkiye’s climatically heterogeneous regions using PVsyst simulation software. A rigorously controlled modelling framework was employed, in which all system-level parameters, including irradiance data, thermal behaviour, array configuration, and loss assumptions, were held constant across simulations, thereby isolating the impact of cell architecture on energy yield. The results demonstrate clear performance differentiation among the examined technologies. SHJ modules exhibit superior energy output under high temperature conditions due to favourable temperature coefficients, whereas TOPCon modules show enhanced robustness under harsh operating environments and improved resistance to lifetime degradation. PERC technology, despite its maturity, remains competitive in regions characterised by moderate climatic stress. These findings indicate that PV technology selection should extend beyond nominal efficiency metrics to incorporate thermal sensitivity, degradation behaviour, and low irradiance performance. Consequently, informed PV investment and deployment strategies must align cell technological attributes with specific environmental conditions. While controlled PVsyst simulations provide a consistent comparative baseline, their practical relevance depends on careful contextualisation to real-world operating environments.

Published

2025-12-03

How to Cite

Saltuk, M. F. (2025). Comparative evaluation of solar photovoltaic cell technologies across Türkiye’s climatic regions: A PVsyst simulation-based analysis. Energy Storage and Conversion, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.59400/esc3850

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Vol. 3 No. 4 (2025)

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Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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