Quantify degradation rates and mechanisms of PV modules and systems installed in

Florida through comprehensive experimental and theoretical analysis

Nicoleta Sorloaica-Hickman, Kris Davis, Florida Solar Energy Center - UCF
Sarah Kurtz, Dirk Jordan, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

FSEC

PVUSA power rating analysis (AC, DC)

P = I POA (a + bI POA + CTamb + dW )

Introduction
The economic viability of photovoltaic (PV) technologies is inextricably
tied to both the electrical performance and degradation rate of the PV systems,
which are the generators of electrical power in PV systems.
Over the past 15 years, performance data has been collected on numerous
PV systems installed throughout the state of Florida. The following parameters
are recorded using various data monitoring instruments:
Array current and voltage (DC) - electrical power produced directly from
incident sunlight by electrically connected modules
Inverter power (AC) power converted to AC by inverter and sent to home,
building, or utility grid
Plane-of-Array irradiance amount of light (flux) incident on array
Module temperature measured from the back of modules

MMS 3960 W PV System Real time

Measurements (2010) and inspections

Collect TAmbient, Irradiance, DC and AC Power on all

PV Systems data one-month blocks of 15-minute intervals
500 W/m2<Irradiance<1200 W/m2
-10 oC <Ta<60oC
P AC>(75% of the PSTC) *Irradiance

NREL

Ignore Data

Calculate the regression coefficients and the Power Rate (W) at

Illumination of 1000 W/m2 and temperature of 20oC

Performance ratio analysis

Eout (kWh)
kWh
Yf (
)=
;
kW
PSTC (kW )

Meigs Middle School (MMS)

PolyCrystaline Si
3960 W

100
Performance Ratio x 100;
Power Rating/PSTC (%)

Kanapaha Middle School (KMS)

MonoCrystalline Si
1680 W
Disney Wilderness Preserve
(DW) Amorphous Si
2340W

Photovoltaic Systems Characteristics

MMS
KMS
DW

Location Size (W)

Florida
Florida
Florida

Technology

3960
1680
2840

multi crystalline Si
mono crystalline Si
amorphous Si

Inverter
2500U
2500U
2500U

Years
5
5
5

Azimuth and Tilt

O South;

25 O
180
180 O South ; 17 O
180 O South ; 17 O

Research strategy
Field Experience

Performance and metrological tests (5 or more years)

90

(a) and (b) corroded grounding lungs; (c) zoomed out IR image
80
70
PRDC x 100
PDC-PVUSA / PSTC
PRAC x 100
PAC-PVUSA / PSTC

60

KMS 1680 W Mono Si

Real Time measurements

90

80

70
PRDC x 100
PDC-PVUSA / PSTC
PRAC x 100
PAC-PVUSA / PSTC

REFERENCES

1. Dunlop, Photovoltaic Systems, 2007

2. Marion et al, Performance Parameters for Grid-connected Photovoltaic
Systems, 31st IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, 2005
3. Ruther, Livingston, Seasonal variations in amorphous silicon solar
module outputs and thin film characteristics, Solar Energy Materials and
Solar Cells, 36, 29, 1994

100
Performance Ratio x 100;
Power Rating/PSTC (%)

Life time Prediction

Yr

MMS 3960 W Poly Si

60

Performance and metrological tests, visual inspection,

IR pictures

PR =

Yf

100

Performance Ratio x 100;

Power Rating/PSTC (%)

PV System

H POA (kWhm 2 )
Yr (hours ) =
;
2
GSTC (kWm )

Conclusions
PVUSA Uncertainty

DW 2840 W Amorphous Si

90
80
70

PRDC x 100
PDC-PVUSA / PSTC
PRAC x 100
PAC-PVUSA / PSTC

60

Dec 03

Oct 04

Aug 05

Jun 06

Time (months )

Acknowledgements

Apr 07

Feb 08

Dec 09

NREL for funding this project

Kevin Lynn, William Wilson, Steve Barkaszi, and all
our colleagues from the Solar Energy Division at FSEC
involved in systems installing and data collections.