RELIABILITY EVALUATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGIES RELEVANT TO SPACE AND TERRESTRIAL APPLICATIONS

The reliability of PV devices and systems is a key factor in both space and terrestrial applications, although the approaches used to date are fundamentally different. Space solar array reliability is the ability to perform the required functions for specific mission environment and duration. Performance is calculated taking into account the different parameters correlated to expected losses and random failures that might occur. For this reason “on ground” life testing of flight representative test devices under “in orbit” representative conditions is essential. In the case of PV for terrestrial concentrator applications, the IEC's product qualification test standards aim to minimise early failures and assure a sufficient level of reliability to create a commercial product market. Life tests as such are not used. Nonetheless the commonalities between the multi-junction PV devices used in both applications suggest that more scientific exchange on methods regarding reliability analysis can be mutually beneficial. The paper identifies a series of such issues for further development.

FERNANDEZ LISBONA Emilio;  TAYLOR Nigel; 

2013-11-27

WIP

JRC85058

3-936338-33-7,   

http://www.eupvsec-proceedings.com/proceedings?fulltext=RELIABILITY,    EVALUATION,    OF,    PHOTOVOLTAIC,    TECHNOLOGIES&paper=23511,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC85058,