**8. Results and discussion**

Now a time, there are number of photovoltaic modeling softwares reported in literature covering the areas of semiconductor physics, photonics, optics, electrical circuit design also in device fabrication and characterization along with costs analysis [5, 44]. This chapter describes a well-established solar simulators like PC1D, SCAPS-1D, wxAMPS-1D, AMPS-1D, ASA, Gpvdm, SETFOS, PECSIM, ASPIN, ADEPT, AFORS-HET, TCAD and SILVACO ALTAS.

At the beginning, many simulating softwares have their parameters, variables and function set up in a variety of scenarios, light intensities and device properties. In order for photovoltaic cells to function properly, light must first be taken in and then used to create an electron–hole pair. At the first stage of this process, the energy contained in a photon is transformed into the form of electrical energy by means of the formation of an electron–hole pair. Because of the natural variance that occurs in the terrestrial spectrum, every reference spectrum has a degree of arbitrary quality to it. The AM1.5G global spectrum is used in order to ensure that the standard spectrum is reflective of the vast majority of PV cells. It is a common practice to assume that the power density is 1000 W/cm2 . The photon flux of the AM1.5G spectrum will be utilized to determine the generation rate. The temperature of the ambient environment is assumed to be 300 K unless specified otherwise. The semiconductor module will provide the semiconductor function such as doping, generation and recombination, trap density and space charge density, based on Poisson's Equation, in order to analyze the carrier transport with the gradients of semiconductor parameters around the heterojunction interfaces.

PC1D is suitable simulator for crystalline silicon solar cell whereas SCAPS-1D is for CIGS, ASA is for amorphous silicon, SETFOS, PECSIM and Gpvdm are employed for organic solar cell and AFROS-HET is for heterojunction solar cell, AMPS-1D, SCAPS-1D, ADAPT and TCAD are used for multiple solar cell simulations. Most of the simulating softwares have been generated by using a single junction solar cell model. ASA, SETFOS and ADEPT have additional features for simulating the comparatively lower efficiency tandem solar cells. But wxAMPS and TCAD simulators


#### **Table 1.**

*Comparative study of solar cell simulators.*

*Performance Evaluation of Solar Cells by Different Simulating Softwares DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.111639*

have III-V multi-junction solar cell simulating capabilities as compared to single junction solar cell.

The research indicates that 3D models offer more accurate estimates of the parasitic losses that occur in solar cells. But nonetheless, one more method for calculating these parasitic losses is to use the equivalent electrical circuit of the solar cell and the IV response equation. In this particular scenario, the 1D simulation will serve as the foundation for defining PV devices in such a way that they are able to adequately manage the complicated carrier movement.

It is important to note that the majority of PV simulators provide simulation capabilities at no cost, with the exception of paid programmes such as ASA, SETFOS, SILVACO ATLAS and TCAD. This fact has to be brought to your attention. The availability of these tools, along with their compatibility with various applications and operating systems, is outlined in **Table 1**. This comparative research sheds light on the precise instrument that should be used to simulate solar cells.
