Analysis of degradation in 25-year-old field-aged crystalline silicon solar cells. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oh, Wonwook; Bae, Soohyun; Kim, Seongtak; Park, Nochang; Chan, Sung-Il; Choi, Hoonjoo; Hwang, Heon; Kim, Donghwan
• Is Part Of: Microelectronics and reliability. Volume 100/101(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Electronic apparatus and appliances -- Reliability -- Periodicals; Miniature electronic equipment -- Periodicals; Appareils électroniques -- Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Équipement électronique miniaturisé -- Périodiques; Electronic apparatus and appliances -- Reliability; Miniature electronic equipment; Periodicals; 621.3815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microrel.2019.06.084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-2714

Abstract

Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) modules have been in use for more than 25 years. The gradual degradation of PV modules is determined by its components and the solar cells. We analyzed the long-term reliability of solar cells using a 25-year-old field-aged PV module. The power of a large size PV module was reduced by approximately 24.6% owing to the delamination of two specific solar cell portions. For a single cell module from a large size PV module, the decrease of short circuit current (Isc ) was caused by the discoloration of the ethylene-vinyl acetate. The maximum power (Pmax ) decreased by 11.5% compared with its initial value; however, this is not an effect of the degradation of the solar cell. Despite being manufactured in the 1980s, these solar cells did not fail and have little power loss and excellent durability after 25 years. Highlights: PV modules installed and operated for 25 years were collected, and the characteristics of normal modules and solar cells were analyzed. module had a power loss of 11.5%; however, the solar cell showed almost no power change. The solar cell sample shows high quality despite 25 years of field exposure.