A analysis group in Ghana performed a collection of checks to evaluate the efficiency of polycrystalline photo voltaic modules in PV techniques which have been working of their nation for not less than 5 years. They discovered that almost all panels may ‘fail’ earlier than 20 years of operation below outside situations.
Researchers on the College of Vitality and Pure Sources (UENR) assessed the efficiency of various polycrystalline photo voltaic modules from 11 undisclosed producers and positioned them below the identical sizzling and humid local weather situations in Kumasi, Ghana.
Their work analyzed, particularly, 48 photo voltaic panels from 12 totally different PV techniques. “In every PV system, the stratified random sampling approach was used to pick 4 PV modules for testing,” they defined. “All techniques are linked off-grid and put in on roofs for 5-9 years.”
The scientists determined to maintain the producers nameless and marked 12 websites with letters from A to L and stated that the panel’s energy output is from 100 W to 460 W. They created a visible inspection based mostly on a guidelines developed by the US Division of Vitality’s. Nationwide Renewable Vitality Laboratory (NREL) and used a Seaward PV 210-meter computerized IV Tracer to measure the efficiency of the panels.
They are saying that not one of the PV techniques are uncovered to shading and that they’re all constructed with the identical set up and upkeep procedures.
By way of testing, the scientists decided that the minimal degradation charge of the analyzed modules was 0.79%/yr, whereas the very best degradation charge was discovered to be 1.67%/yr. Additionally they discovered that the modules deteriorated at totally different charges with deterioration charges between 0.78-1.95%/yr with a imply and median deterioration charge of 1.36%/yr and 1.38%/yr.
“Typically, PV modules from just one producer degrade beneath the guarantee charge of 0.8%/yr whereas modules from the remaining producers degrade above 1.0%/yr,” they stated, which states that 42 modules exceed the 1.0%/yr threshold. , which they are saying means these panels may “fail” earlier than 20 years of operation below Kumasi’s outside situations. “Of the 48 PV modules studied, 6 PV modules representing 12.5% are prone to function reliably for 20-25 years, with 4 PV modules representing 8.3% anticipated to realize guarantee interval of 25 years.”
The analysis group emphasised that photo voltaic panels from the producer with the very best imply degradation charge doesn’t imply that each one merchandise from this producer are of low high quality. It additionally stated that the speed of degradation shouldn’t be associated to the age of the modules and that the utmost energy degradation is especially as a result of reducing of the short-circuit present.
The lecturers introduced their findings within the paper “Degradation evaluation of polycrystalline silicon modules from totally different producers below the identical weather conditions,” printed in Vitality Conversion and Administration: X. “The outcomes of this research are corresponding to the outcomes obtained within the degradation evaluation of polycrystalline silicon modules from totally different producers made in different international locations,” they concluded.
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