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Development of a low-cost spectrometer for studying spectral effects on photovoltaic performance under climate change in South Africa
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613933142016000 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Snyman, Tiaan |
| author2 | Rix, A. J. (Arnold) |
| author_browse | Rix, A. J. (Arnold) Snyman, Tiaan |
| author_facet | Rix, A. J. (Arnold) Snyman, Tiaan |
| author_sort | Snyman, Tiaan |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134825 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:01Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134825 Development of a low-cost spectrometer for studying spectral effects on photovoltaic performance under climate change in South Africa Snyman, Tiaan Rix, A. J. (Arnold) Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Photovoltaic power generation -- South Africa Climatic changes -- South Africa Solar energy -- Climatic factors -- South Africa Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Snyman, T. 2025. Development of a Low-Cost Spectrometer for Studying Spectral Effects on Photovoltaic Performance under Climate Change in South Africa. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/7e702629-328f-4f37-861d-7a88c1609c6f ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis looks at how climate change and spectral variation affect PV performance in South Africa, and at the same time develops a low-cost spectrometer that can measure the solar spectrum outdoors. The work brings together two parts: large-scale climate modelling using long-term datasets, and practical device development for direct spectral measurements. For the climate side, PV potential was calculated with PVlib using MERRA-2 reanalysis data (1980-2023) and CMIP6 future projections. The results show that PV performance does not change in the same way everywhere: western regions such as Upington show a steady decline, while eastern regions show a small increase. These differences link to changes in cloud cover, temperature, and aerosols. For the hardware side, a hand-held spectrometer was built using a CCD sensor, diffraction grating, and focusing lenses. It covers 380-1000 nm with a 1 nm maximum resolution, which is enough for solar spectral work. Calibration against commercial devices showed accuracy within about 5%, which makes it useful for comparing measured spectra with PV module quantum efficiency curves. By combining climate modelling with real spectral measurements, the work gives both a long-term view of PV potential under climate change and a practical tool to study shortterm spectral effects on PV systems. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek hoe veranderinge in die klimaat die spektrale variasie en uiteindelike PV-uitset in Suid-Afrika beïnvloed, en ontwerp terselfdertyd ’n laekoste-spektrometer wat die son se spektrum kan meet. Die werk bestaan uit twee dele: grootskaalse klimaatmodellering met langtermyn-datastelle, en die ontwerp en bou van ’n toestel wat die spektrale verspreiding van die son meet. Aan die klimaatkant is PV-potensiaal bereken met PVlib deur gebruik te maak van MERRA-2 heranalise-data (1980-2023) en toekomstige CMIP6-projekteerders. Die resultate wys dat PV-uitset nie oral op dieselfde manier verander nie: westerse gebiede soos Upington toon ’n geleidelike afname, terwyl oostelike gebiede ’n geringe toename ervaar. Hierdie verskille hou verband met veranderinge in wolkbedekking, temperatuur en aërosols. Die hardeware-gedeelte fokus op ’n draagbare spektrometer wat ’n CCD-sensor, diffraksierooster en veselkoppeling gebruik. Dit dek ’n spektrale omvang van 350-1000 nm teen ’n resolusie van sowat 10 nm, wat voldoende is vir sonspektrum-metings. Kalibrasie teen kommersiële toestelle het ’n akkuraatheid van ongeveer 5% bevestig, wat dit bruikbaar maak om spektrale metings met PV-module se kwantumdoeltreffendheidskurwes te vergelyk. Deur klimaatmodellering en direkte spektrum-metings te kombineer, bied die werk beide ’n langtermyn-uitsig oor PV-potensiaal onder klimaatsverandering en ’n praktiese hulpmiddel om korttermyn-spektrale effekte op PV-stelsels te bestudeer. Masters 2026-01-09T12:17:19Z 2026-01-09T12:17:19Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134825 Stellenbosch University xv, 147 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Photovoltaic power generation -- South Africa Climatic changes -- South Africa Solar energy -- Climatic factors -- South Africa Snyman, Tiaan Development of a low-cost spectrometer for studying spectral effects on photovoltaic performance under climate change in South Africa |
| title | Development of a low-cost spectrometer for studying spectral effects on photovoltaic performance under climate change in South Africa |
| title_full | Development of a low-cost spectrometer for studying spectral effects on photovoltaic performance under climate change in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Development of a low-cost spectrometer for studying spectral effects on photovoltaic performance under climate change in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a low-cost spectrometer for studying spectral effects on photovoltaic performance under climate change in South Africa |
| title_short | Development of a low-cost spectrometer for studying spectral effects on photovoltaic performance under climate change in South Africa |
| title_sort | development of a low cost spectrometer for studying spectral effects on photovoltaic performance under climate change in south africa |
| topic | Photovoltaic power generation -- South Africa Climatic changes -- South Africa Solar energy -- Climatic factors -- South Africa |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134825 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT snymantiaan developmentofalowcostspectrometerforstudyingspectraleffectsonphotovoltaicperformanceunderclimatechangeinsouthafrica |