Onymous early‐life performance degradation analysis of recent photovoltaic module technologies

Abstract

The cost of photovoltaic (PV) modules has declined by 85% since 2010. To achieve this reduction, manufacturers altered module designs and bill of materials; changes that could affect module durability and reliability. To determine if these changes have affected module durability, we measured the performance degradation of 834 fielded PV modules representing 13 module types from 7 manufacturers in 3 climates over 5 years. Degradation rates (Rd) are highly nonlinear over time, and seasonal variations

Thermal behaviors of ethylene vinyl acetate encapsulants in fielded silicon photovoltaic modules

“…Fielded modules were mounted on a south‐facing open rack at a latitude tilt of 35° and were held at maximum power using Enphase IQ7+ microinverters. Similar modules fielded in the same way for the PV Lifetime Project have been reported 14,25 …”

“…Such accelerated testing lacks sufficient validation from fielded modules, which may result in inaccurate lifetime modeling; PV field deployment studies are necessary. Fielded PV systems are typically characterized by a power degradation metric, however, this does not capture the subtleties of the potential material degradation mechanisms at play 11–14 . Destructive characterization can be used to elucidate such degradation mechanisms as well as providing validation to accelerated test results.…”

“…Previous work from this group has focused on evaluating fielded PV module through non‐destructive methods 14,25 . For the first time, module packaging materials were investigated after up to three years of fielding.…”

Investigation of Degradation of Solar Photovoltaics: A Review of Aging Factors, Impacts, and Future Directions toward Sustainable Energy Management

“…The deterioration of the electrical connections between cells or faults in the solar cells, such as fractures or contaminants, are examples of internal issues. The solar panel's design, its operating circumstances, and the quality of the materials used in its construction all impact the rate of panel degradation [26]. Manufacturers frequently offer warranties that guarantee a specific level of performance for a set period of time, sometimes 25 or 30 years, and that might provide insight into the predicted pace of degradation [27].…”

Statistical analysis and degradation pathway modeling of photovoltaic minimodules with varied packaging strategies

“…Degradation of PV modules reported in prior literature has assumed a degradation rate model, that is, defined based on specific module or exposure conditions. For instance, in the study by Theristis et al (2022) degradation rates for fielded modules were defined on the basis of nameplate ratings and from poststabilization flash test. In other cases, degradation rate models have been proposed for specific degradation mechanisms or processes in which model parameters are variable Lindig et al (2018).…”