Defined term
Nominal operating cell temperature (NOCT)
Nominal operating cell temperature (NOCT) is a PV module’s measured cell temperature under the defined NOCT test conditions of 800 W/m² incident irradiance, 20°C ambient temperature, and 1 m/s wind speed.
measurement · Concept code GS-CONCEPT-135 · Last verified August 28, 2026
Evidence through 2025-04-16 · 0 sources have no source-event date
Content modified 2026-08-28
Definition and decision context
Definition
Nominal operating cell temperature (NOCT) is a PV module’s measured cell temperature under the defined NOCT test conditions of 800 W/m² incident irradiance, 20°C ambient temperature, and 1 m/s wind speed.
Verified August 28, 2026
Why it matters
In NREL SAM’s detailed-PV model, NOCT is a module parameter for the cell-temperature model; it is not the temperature a module will necessarily reach at a particular home.
Verified August 28, 2026
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Primary sources
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory: SAM Help 2025-04-16, Detailed Photovoltaic Model → Module → Nominal operating cell temperature, °C, PDF p. 186
Revision SAM Help 2025-04-16 · Source event as of April 16, 2025 · Ontology accessed August 28, 2026 · Ontology verified August 28, 2026