Comparative performance evaluation of different photovoltaic modules technologies under Kuwait harsh climatic conditions

Abstract

In this work, performance analysis and comparison of eight photovoltaic (PV) technologies were carried out under the local harsh climate conditions of Kuwait. The test facility is elevated 3 metres​ above ground level on top of carports at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), alongside the seashore. The test was carried out for two modules each of eight commercially available PV technologies, at total of 16 specimens. The eight technologies employed in this work are, Monocrystalline (m-Si), Polycrystalline (p-Si), Heterojunction (HIT), and thin film; Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS), and Amorphous Silicon (a-Si). The set of data analysed in this paper was systematically acquired during a period of 12 months. Special attention is given to the influence of temperature and dust on the performance of the PV modules. The results show that m-Si, p-Si and HIT modules performed better in high irradiance levels while decreasing rapidly at lower irradiance levels. However, in the case of the cylindrical CIGS module, good performance in low irradiance level was observed Two technologies in the study (a-Si and CdTe) performed significantly lower than the other technologies mainly due to capture losses. The performance analysis show that the HIT technology performed better than m-Si and p-Si technologies. Moreover the module’s geometry and construction materials had significant impact on module temperature, soiling loss, and subsequently module performance. Modules packaged with epoxy degraded faster than other modules with glass encapsulation under the same soiling rate due to dust fallout.