One‐type‐fits‐all‐systems: Strategies for preventing potential‐induced degradation in crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic modules

Virtuani, Alessandro; Annigoni, Eleonora; Ballif, Christophe

doi:10.1002/pip.3066

Cited by 24 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…Indeed, Section S6 shows 1,000× greater volumetric resistivity for the POE (2.6 × 10 15 Ωcm) compared to the EVA (1.4 × 10 12 Ωcm) used in this study, which should result in greater PID resistance for the POE‐containing modules. Upon saturating the encapsulants in moisture, we observed no significant difference within the experimental error for the volume resistivity of saturated POE (4.3 × 10 15 Ωcm), while that of saturated EVA decreased slightly (4.6 × 10 11 Ωcm) consistent with the literature 39 . These results suggest that the PID degradation modes that we observe were likely unaffected by extended exposure to damp heat for POE modules, while moisture uptake by the encapsulant could worsen PID effects in EVA.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…(2) greater bulk conductivity as well as ionic transport of species such as Na+ for EVA encapsulants compared to POE, resulting in stronger PID effects. 8,[36][37][38] Indeed, Section S6 shows 1,000Â greater volumetric resistivity for the POE (2.6 Â 10 15 Ωcm) compared to the EVA 39 These results suggest that the PID degradation modes that we observe were likely unaffected by extended exposure to damp heat for POE modules, while moisture uptake by the encapsulant could worsen PID effects in EVA.…”

Section: Current-voltage Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 56%

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Electrochemical degradation modes in bifacial silicon photovoltaic modules

Sulas‐Kern

Owen‐Bellini

Ndione

et al. 2021

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Motivated by the rapidly rising deployment of bifacial monocrystalline‐silicon photovoltaics (PV), we investigate the durability of various PV module packaging configurations with transparent coverings on both the front and rear sides of the module. We use a series of bifacial passivated emitter and rear cell (p‐PERC) mini‐modules with systematically varying outer cover materials (glass/glass, G/G, or glass/transparent backsheet, G/TB) and encapsulant chemistries (poly [ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate], EVA; or polyolefin, POE). We study degradation modes over 1,000 hours of combined damp heat (DH) exposure and high system voltages that can cause potential‐induced degradation (PID) under positive, zero, or negative 1,000 V cell‐to‐frame bias. We analyze the degradation modes using a combination of current–voltage measurements, impedance spectroscopy, external quantum efficiency, and spatially resolved luminescence and thermal imaging. Our results highlight various types of degradation including shunting, enhanced recombination, and series resistance increases, and we use spatially resolved characterization to separately identify the localized effects. We show that multiple PID and moisture‐ingress degradation modes severely affect EVA‐containing modules, with previously reported PID processes under negative‐bias DH and a unique observation of rear‐side surface recombination in G/EVA/G modules under positive‐bias DH. We observe significantly less degradation in POE‐containing modules, where the G/POE/G configuration exhibits minimal degradation under all stress conditions that we employ.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Current-voltage Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 56%

Electrochemical degradation modes in bifacial silicon photovoltaic modules

Sulas‐Kern

Owen‐Bellini

Ndione

et al. 2021

Progress in Photovoltaics

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“…Furthermore, PVB chemistries have continued to evolve with excellent moisture ingress resistance properties that—possibly—do not require edge sealing compounds any longer. A potential drawback of PVB is its low volume resistivity that could make modules manufactured with this polymer particularly prone to the occurrence of PID unless the proper mitigation strategies (eg, grounding of negative pole) are adopted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

35 years of photovoltaics: Analysis of the TISO‐10‐kW solar plant, lessons learnt in safety and performance—Part 2

Annigoni

Virtuani

Caccivio

et al. 2019

Progress in Photovoltaics

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The TISO‐10‐kW plant, installed in Lugano (Switzerland) in 1982, is the first grid‐connected PV plant in Europe. In a joint publication (part 1), we presented the results of the electrical characterization performed in 2017—after 35 years of operation—of the 288 Arco Solar modules constituting the plant. Power degradation rates were different among modules and two groups could clearly be distinguished: group 1, with a remarkably low mean degradation rate of −0.2% per year, and group 2, with a mean degradation of −0.69% per year. After 35 in a temperate climate, approximately 70% of the modules (considering a ±3% measurement uncertainty) still exhibit a performance higher than 80% of their initial value. In this paper, when possible, we attempt at correlating module performance losses to specific failure mechanisms. For this sake, an extensive characterization of the modules was performed using visual inspection, IV curve measurements, electroluminescence, and infrared imaging. We remarkably find that module degradation rates are highly correlated to the aging pattern of the encapsulants used in module manufacturing. In particular, a specific formulation of the encapsulant (PVB), which was used only in a minority of the modules (approximately 10%), leads to degradation rates of −0.2% per year, which corresponds to a loss in performance below 10% over 35 years. Potential safety threats are also investigated, by measuring the frame continuity, the functionality of the bypass diodes, and the module insulation. Finally, we discuss how the analysis of a 35‐year‐old PV module technology could benefit the industry in order to target PV module lifetimes of 40+ years.

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“…Several degradation modes have in fact been reported leading to severe and accelerated losses in performance, already in the early system life. These include, as an example, potential-induced degradation (PID) [17] that can occur in the very first months or years of operation, glass breakage, junction-box failure, or back-sheet cracking [18] that may appear (and rapidly evolve) already after a few years of operation if the wrong polymeric materials are used. This tells us that the initial assumption (i.e., fulfilled module performance warranties over 30 years), besides being a reasonable target for the mature solar PV technology, is on the other hand a sort of best-case scenario with a limited but concrete probability that these warranties are not fulfilled.…”

Section: Severe Module Degradation and Replacementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profitability of Solar Photovoltaic Projects: A Sensitivity Analysis of Performance Loss Curves and Operation and Maintenance Expenses

Virtuani¹,

Morganti²

2022

Solar RRL

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Literature highlights the fact that degradation curves are frequently not linear. This technical knowledge is, however, neglected by developers, which continues to use simplified linear degradation rates to assess the profitability of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. Herein, the unleveraged equity interest return rate (IRR) of utility‐scale (50 MWp in size) PV projects deployed in different parts of Europe is computed and a sensitivity analysis of how the profitability of the plant is impacted when nonlinear degradation curves are used is carried out. In general, a 2‐step performance loss curve leads to the highest project‐IRRs at equal total loss, whereas the lowest IRRs are achieved if module degradation is undergoing a negative logarithmic or exponential curve. Further, the sensitivity of profitability to the different degradation trajectories increases at higher latitudes for which the absolute project‐IRR is lower. Then, a similar analysis is performed mimicking situations that would lead to a significant revamping of the PV plant after 10 years of operation. This allows us to identify thresholds for overall module degradation that would justify this kind of intervention. Finally, the impact that loss rates and combined operation–maintenance and insurance costs have on the project IRR is highlighted.

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One‐type‐fits‐all‐systems: Strategies for preventing potential‐induced degradation in crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic modules

Cited by 24 publications

References 20 publications

Electrochemical degradation modes in bifacial silicon photovoltaic modules

Electrochemical degradation modes in bifacial silicon photovoltaic modules

35 years of photovoltaics: Analysis of the TISO‐10‐kW solar plant, lessons learnt in safety and performance—Part 2

Profitability of Solar Photovoltaic Projects: A Sensitivity Analysis of Performance Loss Curves and Operation and Maintenance Expenses

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