Abstract
Recently, the use of photovoltaic (PV) cells and the increase in the number of photovoltaic power plants has led to a detailed examination of their operating parameters. In this article, we discuss material and operating parameter influences on the performance and efficiency of photovoltaic panels in a photovoltaic power plant. The plant consisted of 3600 pieces of polycrystalline PV panels from Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) Solar (type REC 230AE) with a maximum power of 230 Wp. Parameter measurements were made three years after the power plant was started. The measured and computed data were statistically processed using multidimensional statistical methods where the relationships between input and output variables were examined, which was subsequently quantified by regression analysis. Using the ANOVA, the variability of the measured efficiency of the panels and the performance for individual years was examined. Efficiency has been found to increase significantly over the years. The reason for this is the statistically proven prevailing operating time of the PV power plant in conditions with lower temperature than standard operating conditions (25 °C). Ageing was not confirmed in optimal conditions and calculated efficiency was constant.
Highlights
For both large and small photovoltaic (PV) installations, the development of a symptom of PV module degradation is inevitable
The results show that early degradation was most pronounced in amorphous silicon (13.8%), while it decreased by 9.3% in copper–indium sulphide (CIS) technology installed as a thin film
The results of this study propose that natural aging modules of natural milder aging effects were more evenly distributed across all cells of the module, while modules exposed to stronger local effects of induced aging exhibit uneven distribution of optical and thermal degradation, and cause much higher rates of degradation
Summary
For both large and small photovoltaic (PV) installations, the development of a symptom of PV module degradation is inevitable. PV degradation is known to cause a decrease in panel performance and the amount of energy produced, and the relationship between the different rates of degradation and PV system failures (including the types of faults, their location, and the current failure level) has been investigated by Dhoke, Sharma and Saha [1]. Their experiment involved arranging 16 modules with different levels of degradation which were applied to generate multiple short-circuit error scenarios. The potential for the degradation of PV modules is of interest to manufacturers, promoters and owners of these systems.
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