Global climate data processing and mapping of degradation mechanisms and degradation rates of PV modules

Ascencio Vásquez, Julián Andrés (author), Kaaya, Ismail (author), Brecl, Kristijan (author), Weiß, Karl-Anders (author), Topič, Marko (author)

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are the cheapest source of electricity in sunny locations and nearly all European countries. However, the fast deployment of PV systems around the world is bringing uncertainty to the PV community in terms of the reliability and long-term performance of PV modules under different climatic stresses, such as irradiation, temperature changes, and humidity. Methodologies and models to estimate the annual degradation rates of PV modules have been studied in the past, yet, an evaluation of the issue at global scale has not been addressed so far. Hereby, we process the ERA5 climate re-analysis dataset to extract and model the climatic stresses necessary for the calculation of degradation rates. These stresses are then applied to evaluate three degradation mechanisms (hydrolysis-degradation, thermomechanical-degradation, and photo-degradation) and the total degradation rate of PV modules due to the combination of temperature, humidity, and ultraviolet irradiation. Further on, spatial distribution of the degradation rates worldwide is computed and discussed proving direct correlation with the Köppen-Geiger-Photovoltaic climate zones, showing that the typical value considered for the degradation rate on PV design and manufacturer warranties (i.e., 0.5%/a) can vary ± 0.3%/a in the temperate zones of Europe and rise up to 1.5%/a globally. The mapping of degradation mechanisms and total degradation rates is provided for a monocrystalline silicon PV module. Additionally, we analyze the temporal evolution of degradation rates, where a global degradation rate is introduced and its dependence on global ambient temperature demonstrated. Finally, the categorization of degradation rates is made for Europe and worldwide to facilitate the understanding of the climatic stresses.

• Language: English
• Keywords: photovoltaics, degradation, PV systems, climate zones, climate data
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 12.12.2019
• Year: 2019
• Number of pages: 16 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, iss. 24, art. 4749
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-113432
• UDC: 621.383.51
• ISSN on article: 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en12244749
• COBISS.SI-ID: 12800596
• Publication date in RUL: 06.01.2020

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Energies
• Shortened title: Energies
• Publisher: Molecular Diversity Preservation International
• ISSN: 1996-1073
• COBISS.SI-ID: 518046745

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 12.12.2019

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: fotovoltaika, degradacija, PV sistemi, klimatske cone, klimatski podatki

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: H2020
• Project number: 721452
• Name: Photovoltaic module life time forecast and evaluation
• Acronym: SOLAR-TRAIN

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0197
• Name: Fotovoltaika in elektronika