One-year performance evaluation of two newly developed back-contact solar modules in two different climates

ÖZDEN T., Carr A. J., Geerligs B. (. J. )., TURAN R., AKINOĞLU B. G.

RENEWABLE ENERGY, cilt.145, ss.557-568, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 145
  • Basım Tarihi: 2020
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.06.045
  • Dergi Adı: RENEWABLE ENERGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Index Islamicus, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.557-568
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Back contact PV modules, Outdoor testing, PV efficiency, Performance ratio, Temperature coefficient, DEGRADATION RATES
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

To a certain extent, the photovoltaics industry is well developed, and the performance and expected yield of standard photovoltaic modules are well documented and researched. However, newer more efficient photovoltaic cell and module technologies are being developed all over the world. Outdoor testing of new photovoltaic technologies is very important to understand and validate their reliability and performance under different environmental conditions. For the first time, one year of monitored performance data is presented and analyzed for two high efficiencies interdigitated back contact prototype mini-modules at different locations, having different climates. The test results of a commercial hetero-junction with intrinsic thin-layer" module are also presented for comparison. The results showed that the two mini-modules remained stable for the duration of the test period, and showed no signs of degradation. They did perform significantly differently due to the different climatic conditions. The results also show that the combination of ambient temperature difference together with relative humidity impacts the performance of the modules. Calculated outdoor yearly efficiencies are 19.05% and 18.36% for two integrated back contact mini-modules tested in Petten-Netherland and Ankara-Turkey, respectively. The temperature coefficients of the modules are also calculated and compared with two commercial photovoltaic modules. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.