Global Solar Simulator Market Size and Trends

The global solar simulator Market size is valued at US$ 433.5 Mn in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 707.2 Mn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2024 to 2031. Solar simulators are light sources that are designed to simulate natural sunlight. They are used to test solar cells, solar panels, sunscreen, materials, automotive components, and other products for their performance under simulated sunlight conditions.

Global Solar Simulator Market Trends

Multi-lamp solar simulators: Solar simulators using multiple lamps are gaining popularity as they offer higher intensities and uniformity required for testing new generation solar cells and panels. Multi-lamp simulators combine the outputs of several individual xenon or metal halide lamps. They provide class AAA performance and spectrum needed for ultra-efficient triple junction cells. For instance, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Research ISE (Fraunhofer ISE) and NWO-Institute AMOLF have developed a multijunction solar cell with an efficiency of 36.1%, beating previous records for silicon-based solar cells. Major manufacturers like Wacom, Abet Technologies, Endeas offer multi-lamp models, thus catering to PV cell makers and labs.
LED-based solar simulators: Increasing adoption of Light-emitting diode (LED) technology in solar simulators is a key trend. LED-based designs offer benefits like low operating costs, long lifespan as compared to traditional arc lamp systems. Moreover, LEDs allow control over individual spectrum wavelengths, thereby enabling adjustable spectral output. An innovative benchtop LED solar simulator, LumiSun 50 is perfect for measuring photovoltaic cells’ efficiency and spectral response in research labs. Companies like Bentham Instruments, a manufacturer of monochromators, offer LED solar simulators. OEMs are also developing LED-based custom simulators. However, LEDs lack high intensity and spectral range as compared to xenon arc lamps.
Air mass control: Air mass control is a feature gaining importance in advanced solar simulators. It allows adjusting the spectral content of the light source to simulate sunlight through different air m ass conditions. Lower air mass indicates direct overhead sunlight, while higher values simulate sunlight passing through more atmosphere. Air mass adjustment is useful for testing solar panels for different latitudes and climate conditions. Abet, a manufacturer arc based light sources for spectroscopy, solar simulators for the Photovoltaic, Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical industries, produces SunLite solar which offers air mass filters, such as the AM1.5G, which are crucial components that simulate the spectral distribution of sunlight as it passes through earth's atmosphere, thereby enabling researchers and developers to test solar panels and materials under consistent and standard conditions. Companies like Spectrolab, a manufacturer of space solar cells and panels, offer solar simulators with air mass controllers.
IoT-enabled smart solar simulators: Integration of internet-of-things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud connectivity in solar simulators is an emerging trend. Connected solar simulators allow remote control, monitoring, data acquisition and reporting. Companies like KLA Corp, an American capital equipment company, offer IoT-enabled models that connect to cloud platforms. Smart IoT features reduce the need for on-site operators. According to matellio navigation ideas, with the rise of renewable energy sources, IoT-based solar power monitoring systems will become increasingly important for managing and optimizing solar power installations. They enable seamless software updates and integration with automated testing setups. IoT integration provides users with more flexibility.