Assessment of losses in cadmium telluride and micromorph based thin film photovoltaic systems under real operating conditions

Abstract

The present study is focused on losses analysis of CdTe and micromorph PV modules installed in composite climate of India. A comprehensive module characterization with the related uncertainty analysis has been carried out by using the real electrical parameters measured at the operating field conditions. The impact of cracks in the PV module on the I-V curve has also been evaluated. A power drop of 49% has been recorded in micromorph PV modules as a result of 24% reduction in the panel area due to crack defects. The performance assessment of both the technology PV modules (CdTe and micromorph) has been initially carried out over a period of one year field exposure. Irradiance, temperature and spectral effects have been identified to quantify the corresponding losses/gain in power generation. The performance ratios of CdTe and micromorph PV modules have been found to be 80% and 65%, respectively. Spectral and temperature losses up to −29.2% and −10.1%, respectively have been recorded in the micromorph PV module. However, both PV module technologies’ results are found insensitive to the irradiance effects with negligible losses of approximately -1%. Overall, the CdTe module technology is found to be more efficient than the micromorph PV modules in composite climate of India.