Results from an international interlaboratory study on light- and elevated temperature-induced degradation in solar modules

This paper reports the results of an international interlaboratory comparison study on light- and elevated temperature-induced degradation (LETID) on crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules. A large global network of PV module manufacturers and PV testing laboratories collaborated to design a protocol for LETID detection, and screen a large and diverse set of prototype modules for LETID. Results across labs indicate the reproducibility of LETID testing is likely within ±1% of maximum power (PMP). In intentionally engineered LETID-sensitive modules, mean degradation after the prescribed detection stress is roughly 6% PMP. In other module types the LETID sensitivity is smaller, and in some we observe essentially negligible degradation attributable to LETID. In LETID-sensitive modules, both open-circuit voltage (VOC) and short-circuit current (ISC) degrade by a roughly similar magnitude. We observe, as do previous studies, that LETID affects each cell in a module differently. An investigation of the potential mismatch losses caused by nonuniform LETID degradation found that mismatch loss is insignificant compared to the estimated loss of cell ISC, which drives loss of module ISC. Overall, this work has helped inform the creation of a forthcoming standard technical specification for LETID testing of PV modules, IEC TS 63342 ED1, and should aid in the interpretation of results from that and other LETID tests.

KARAS Joseph;  REPINS Ingrid;  BERGER Karl A.;  KUBICEK Bernhard;  JIANG Fangdan;  ZHANG Daqi;  JAUBERT Jean-Nicolas;  BELÉN CUELI Ana;  SAMPLE Tony;  JAECKEL Bengt;  PANDER Matthias;  FOKUHL Esther;  KOENTOPP Max B.;  KERSTEN Friederike;  CHOI Jun-Hong;  BORA Birinchi;  BANERJEE Chandan;  WENDLANDT Stefan;  ERION-LORICO Tristan;  SAUER Kenneth J.;  TSAN Jon;  PRAVETTONI Mauro;  CACCIVIO Mauro;  BELLENDA Giovanni;  MONOKROUSSOS Christos;  MAAROUFI Hamza; 

2022-10-07

WILEY

JRC128052

1062-7995 (online),   

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pip.3573,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC128052,   

10.1002/pip.3573 (online),