New model to study the outdoor degradation of thin–film photovoltaic modules. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Piliougine, Michel; Sánchez-Friera, Paula; Petrone, Giovanni; Sánchez-Pacheco, Francisco José; Spagnuolo, Giovanni; Sidrach-de-Cardona, Mariano
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 193(2022)
• Page Start: 857
• Page End: 869
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Amorphous silicon -- Cadmium telluride -- Copper indium gallium selenide -- Microcrystalline silicon -- Photovoltaic degradation -- Thin film; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.05.063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: The performance of four thin-film photovoltaic modules is analyzed after an initial stabilization period and a subsequent outdoor exposition. The seasonal variations and the degradation rates of a single-junction hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) module, a tandem amorphous microcrystalline Silicon (a-Si/ μ c-Si) module, a heterostructure cadmium sulfide-cadmium telluride (CdS/CdTe) module and a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) are examined and correlated to spectral changes. The I–V curves have been measured every 5 min; the electrical parameters and parasitic resistances have been identified. By exploiting a number of experimental measurements acquired within a narrow interval of irradiance and cell temperature, a novel mathematical model has been developed and fitted: it considers a stationary seasonal variation component and a linear long-term degradation component. The results show annual power degradation rates of 4.0% for the a-Si:H module, 3.4% for the a-Si/ μ c-Si and 3.5% for the CdS/CdTe, whereas for the CIGS module the annual degradation is not significant, i.e. 0.2%. Graphical abstract: Image 1