Performances and failure of field-aged PV modules operating in Saharan region of Algeria

Sadok, Mohammed; Benyoucef, B.; Othmani, Mourad; Mehdaoui, A.

doi:10.1063/1.4959405

Cited by 7 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In 27 , Sheeraz Kirmani et al analyzed long-term monitoring data to determine the degradation rates of crystalline modules after 15 years of field exposure in India, which was reported to be 0.5% per year. Two studies were conducted by Sadok, et al 28 , 29 ; one was for assessing the degradation of PV modules and detecting possible defects by a visual inspection method. The average annual power degradation rate of mono-crystalline PV modules is around 1.55% after 11 years of outdoor operation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation and energy performance evaluation of mono-crystalline photovoltaic modules in Egypt

Atia

Hassan

El-Madany

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Degradation reduces the capability of solar photovoltaic (PV) production over time. Studies on PV module degradation are typically based on time-consuming and labor-intensive accelerated or field experiments. Understanding the modes and methodologies of degradation is critical to certifying PV module lifetimes of 25 years. Both technological and environmental conditions affect the PV module degradation rate. This paper investigates the degradation of 24 mono-crystalline silicon PV modules mounted on the rooftop of Egypt's electronics research institute (ERI) after 25 years of outdoor operation. Degradation rates were determined using the module's performance ratio, temperature losses, and energy yield. Visual inspection, I–V characteristic measurement, and degradation rate have all been calculated as part of the PV evaluation process. The results demonstrate that the modules' maximum power ($${P}_{max}$$ P max ) has decreased in an average manner by 23.3% over time. The degradation rates of short-circuit current ($${I}_{sc}$$ I sc ) and maximum current ($${I}_{m}$$ I m ) are 12.16% and 7.2%, respectively. The open-circuit voltage ($${V}_{oc}$$ V oc ), maximum voltage ($${V}_{m}$$ V m ), and fill factor ($$FF$$ FF ) degradation rates are 2.28%, 12.16%, and 15.3%, respectively. The overall performance ratio obtained for the PV system is 85.9%. After a long time of operation in outdoor conditions, the single diode model's five parameters are used for parameter identification of each module to study the effect of aging on PV module performance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation and energy performance evaluation of mono-crystalline photovoltaic modules in Egypt

Atia

Hassan

El-Madany

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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“…A common crystalline silicon cell failure is interconnection breakage, often from thermal/mechanical stresses causing visible burn marks affecting fill factor (FF) and Rs [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Cracks frequently arise in c-Si and thin film (TF) cells due to thermal cycles, transportation, installation, or manual cleaning [8,14,22].…”

Section: Degradation Processes and Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Associated defects like delamination and corrosion can be characterized through electroluminescence, photoluminescence, hyperspectral imaging, lock-in thermography, and RUV imaging [34][35][36], degrading Isc and FF [34][35][36]. Shunts in c-Si cells linked to recombination-inducing impurities are detectable via lock-in thermography and reduce Isc and FF [9][10][11]. Metallization and bus bar corrosion caused by moisture ingress produces observable burn marks and cell delamination, increasing Rs while cutting FF .…”

Section: Degradation Processes and Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant discoloration from UV radiation and water above 50°C alters the polymer chemical structure [8,15]. Perovskite encapsulant discoloration also oc- curs through light and moisture [11,15], reducing transmittance and output power [8,11]. White spots in TF cells lead to optical degradation, delamination, and anti-reflective coating damage, cutting Isc based on visual inspection .…”

Section: Degradation Processes and Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…White spots in TF cells lead to optical degradation, delamination, and anti-reflective coating damage, cutting Isc based on visual inspection . Solder bond failures in amorphous silicon cells from thermal cycling, moisture, and vibrations create observable arcing that degrades Rs and FF [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Misalignments, cracks, and dirt produce hot spots seen via infrared, lowering Voc and Rsh [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25].…”

Section: Degradation Processes and Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Understanding Photovoltaic Module Degradation: An Overview of Critical Factors, Models, and Reliability Enhancement Methods

Diallo,

Melhaoui,

Rafi

et al. 2023

E3S Web of Conf.

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Photovoltaic (PV) modules, though reputed for reliability and long lifespans of 25-30 years, commonly experience gradual performance degradation influenced by varying environmental factors. This literature review explores the degradation of PV modules through in-depth analysis of failure modes, characterization techniques, analytical models, and mitigation strategies. A range of failure modes seen in PV modules are discussed, including interconnect breakage, cell cracks, metallization corrosion, delamination, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) discoloration, Potential-Induced Degradation (PID), Light-Induced Degradation (LID), and other. Environmental stresses like temperature, humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and dust accumulation play significant roles in accelerating almost all degradation modes. Dust is a crucial factor in Middle East/North Africa (MENA) regions. Studying degradation modes under real-world conditions remains challenging, requiring extensive field testing to examine defect frequency, evolution rate, and impacts on energy production. PID is a major degradation mode requiring modeling and correction techniques to improve PV efficiency and lifespan. However, PID models are often limited to specific conditions, posing applicability challenges. Characterization methods like visual inspection, current-voltage (I-V),various imaging methods, and resonance ultrasonic vibrations (RUV) enable effective evaluation of degradation effects on module properties. Analytical models facilitate study of particular degradation modes and prediction of lifetimes under diverse conditions. Key factors influencing PV degradation include weather variations, materials quality, design parameters, PID, and hot spots. Protective coatings, encapsulation improvements, and module cleaning help mitigate degradation and prolong lifespan. A comprehensive understanding of mechanisms through integrated experimentation and modeling is critical for performance improvements. By reviewing major degradation phenomena, characterization techniques, analytical models, and mitigation strategies, this study promotes PV durability and sustainability. Significant knowledge gaps persist regarding module behavior under varied climate conditions and synergistic effects between different degradation mechanisms. Extensive field testing across diverse environments paired with advanced multiphysics modeling can provide valuable insights to guide technological enhancements for robust, long-lasting PV systems worldwide.

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Comprehensive review on performance, reliability, and roadmap of c‐Si PV modules in desert climates: A proposal for improved testing standard

Adothu,

Kumar,

John

et al. 2024

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Desert regions have emerged as ideal places for GW utility‐scale photovoltaic (PV) module installations because of their ultra‐large spaces, abundance of high‐irradiance sunshine hours, and clear sky. However, the harsh desert climate presents challenges to the reliability and bankability of PV modules. This review provides an in‐depth understanding of the unique desert parameters impact, desert‐induced degradation modes, status, and required properties of the bill of materials (BOMs) and suggestions for the development of desert standards. The review reveals that the climatic conditions in the desert are considerably harsher than those in the moderate climate. The main degradation mechanisms caused by the desert are ultraviolet (UV)‐induced discoloration, thermomechanical flaws of interconnects, and glass abrasion (because of soiling). The development of desert modules may necessitate the use of new‐generation modules with low‐temperature coefficients, high efficiency, high bifaciality, stability under UV light, and elevated temperatures. For the desert module application, options include advanced back sheets and encapsulants that are thermally and UV stable, free of acetic acid groups, and have a low water vapor transfer rate. The degradation modes induced by desert climate are not sufficiently addressed by the present environmental and safety standards through accelerated aging tests. As a result, this article provides a summary of current standards and recommends creating a new testing proposal called the “Hot Desert Test Cycle (HDTC)” sequence that is specific to the desert climate. This comprehensive review catalyzes the PV community to explore novel designs and develop desert PV modules while adhering to localized standards.

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Performances and failure of field-aged PV modules operating in Saharan region of Algeria

Cited by 7 publications

References 14 publications

Degradation and energy performance evaluation of mono-crystalline photovoltaic modules in Egypt

Degradation and energy performance evaluation of mono-crystalline photovoltaic modules in Egypt

Understanding Photovoltaic Module Degradation: An Overview of Critical Factors, Models, and Reliability Enhancement Methods

Comprehensive review on performance, reliability, and roadmap of c‐Si PV modules in desert climates: A proposal for improved testing standard

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