Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Real-time and accelerated outdoor endurance testing of solar cells

Conference ·
Real-time and accelerated outdoor endurance testing was performed on a variety of samples of interest to the Energy Research and Development Administration, National Photovoltaic Conversion Program. The real-time tests were performed at seven different sites and the accelerated tests were performed at one of those sites in southwestern United States. The purpose of the tests were to help evaluate the lifetime of photovoltaic systems. Three types of samples were tested: transmission samples of possible cover materials, sub-modules constructed using these materials attached to solar cells, and solar cell modules produced by the manufacturers for the ERDA program. Results indicate that suitable cover materials are glass, FEP-A and PFA. Dirt accumulation and cleanability are important factors in the selection of solar cell module covers and encapsulants.
Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, Ohio (USA). Lewis Research Center
DOE Contract Number:
EX-76-A-29-1022
OSTI ID:
7296464
Report Number(s):
ERDA/NASA/1022-77/17; NASA-TM-73743; CONF-770922-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English