Comprehensive study of performance degradation of field‐mounted photovoltaic modules in India

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Energy Science & Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.150· OSTI ID:1341904

Dubey, Rajiv  ^[1]; Chattopadhyay, Shashwata ^[1]; Kuthanazhi, Vivek ^[1]; Kottantharayil, Anil ^[1]; Singh Solanki, Chetan ^[1]; Arora, Brij M. ^[1]; Narasimhan, Krishnamachari L. ^[1]; Vasi, Juzer ^[1]; Bora, Birinchi ^[2]; Singh, Yogesh Kumar ^[2]; Sastry, Oruganti S. ^[2]

---

1. National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Powai Mumbai 400076 India
2. National Institute for Solar Energy Ministry of New and Renewable Energy New Delhi 110003 India

Abstract The All India Survey of Photovoltaic Module Reliability 2014 is an enhanced version of the survey conducted in the previous year, with detailed characterization of PV modules including current‐voltage, infrared and electroluminescence imaging, visual inspection, insulation resistance test and interconnect breakage test. More than a thousand modules were inspected in the field and the main results of the survey are presented in this paper. The average P _max degradation rate for the so‐called ‘good’ modules (Group X) is 1.33%/year which is higher than that commonly projected by manufacturers, and widely employed in financial calculations. Modules falling in the ‘not‐so‐good’ category (Group Y) show even higher degradation rates, and it is at least partly due to higher number of micro‐cracks in the modules, and increased degradation of the packaging materials like encapsulant, backsheet, etc. Modules in ‘Hot’ climates degrade faster than modules in the ‘Non‐Hot’ climates. Degradation in fill factor is the primary cause for performance degradation in the young modules (ages <5 years), whereas short‐circuit current degradation is the main contributor to power degradation in the older modules. Small installations (<100 kW _p capacity) show higher degradation than large systems, which may be partly due to lack of proper due diligence by the owner at the time of procurement and installation.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: DE AC36‐08G028308
• OSTI ID: 1341904
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1341905
• Journal Information: Energy Science & Engineering, Journal Name: Energy Science & Engineering Vol. 5 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 2050-0505
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English