Electrical Performance and Degradation Analysis of Field-Aged PV Modules in Tropical Climates: A Comparative Experimental Study
Performance degradation is a prevalent phenomenon in solar photovoltaic systems globally, with varying aging profiles and effects depending on environmental and climatic conditions. This paper presents an extensive investigation of the electrical performance, aging mechanisms, and degradation analys...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-10-01
|
| Series: | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524001971 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846117699042672640 |
|---|---|
| author | Md. Imamul Islam Mohd Shawal Bin Jadin Ahmed Al Mansur Talal Alharbi |
| author_facet | Md. Imamul Islam Mohd Shawal Bin Jadin Ahmed Al Mansur Talal Alharbi |
| author_sort | Md. Imamul Islam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Performance degradation is a prevalent phenomenon in solar photovoltaic systems globally, with varying aging profiles and effects depending on environmental and climatic conditions. This paper presents an extensive investigation of the electrical performance, aging mechanisms, and degradation analysis of field-aged PV modules under the tropical climate of Malaysia. Utilizing a combination of visual inspection, I-V curve measurement, and thermal imaging techniques, this research provides a comprehensive assessment of the electrical and thermal properties of field-aged PV modules from two locations in Malaysia over extended periods (8 years at UMPSA and 10 years at Pasir Mas). The multi-faceted approach of the study allows for a deeper understanding of the degradation process, offering insights into the causes and effects of higher current and lower voltage in aged modules. The study found the average annual degradation rates at UMPSA were 0.3% for open circuit voltage (Voc), 0.23% for short circuit current (Isc), 0.81% for maximum power (Pmax), and 0.35% for fill factor (FF) and at Pasir Mas, the average annual degradation rates were 1.124% for Voc, −0.166% for Isc, 1.276% for Pmax, and 0.43% for FF. The study also found that monocrystalline silicon (m-Si) panels experienced an average power degradation of 6.48%, while polycrystalline silicon (p-Si) panels showed a higher degradation of 12.76%. However, Thermal imaging revealed significant temperature variations across the modules, with hotspots reaching up to 11.2 °C above cooler areas in UMPSA panels and an even more pronounced 26.1 °C difference in Pasir Mas modules. These temperature disparities highlight the uneven heat distribution and potential performance issues in the panels. This research contributes to the understanding of PV module degradation in tropical climates and aligns with sustainable development, climate change mitigation efforts, and SDG 7 by promoting sustainable energy solutions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e032876cadd4d558ee981593031cde7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e032876cadd4d558ee981593031cde72024-12-18T08:51:23ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452024-10-0124100719Electrical Performance and Degradation Analysis of Field-Aged PV Modules in Tropical Climates: A Comparative Experimental StudyMd. Imamul Islam0Mohd Shawal Bin Jadin1Ahmed Al Mansur2Talal Alharbi3Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Pekan 26600, Pahang, MalaysiaFaculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Pekan 26600, Pahang, MalaysiaDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Green University of Bangladesh, Purbachal American City, Kanchon, 1460, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Qassim, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author.Performance degradation is a prevalent phenomenon in solar photovoltaic systems globally, with varying aging profiles and effects depending on environmental and climatic conditions. This paper presents an extensive investigation of the electrical performance, aging mechanisms, and degradation analysis of field-aged PV modules under the tropical climate of Malaysia. Utilizing a combination of visual inspection, I-V curve measurement, and thermal imaging techniques, this research provides a comprehensive assessment of the electrical and thermal properties of field-aged PV modules from two locations in Malaysia over extended periods (8 years at UMPSA and 10 years at Pasir Mas). The multi-faceted approach of the study allows for a deeper understanding of the degradation process, offering insights into the causes and effects of higher current and lower voltage in aged modules. The study found the average annual degradation rates at UMPSA were 0.3% for open circuit voltage (Voc), 0.23% for short circuit current (Isc), 0.81% for maximum power (Pmax), and 0.35% for fill factor (FF) and at Pasir Mas, the average annual degradation rates were 1.124% for Voc, −0.166% for Isc, 1.276% for Pmax, and 0.43% for FF. The study also found that monocrystalline silicon (m-Si) panels experienced an average power degradation of 6.48%, while polycrystalline silicon (p-Si) panels showed a higher degradation of 12.76%. However, Thermal imaging revealed significant temperature variations across the modules, with hotspots reaching up to 11.2 °C above cooler areas in UMPSA panels and an even more pronounced 26.1 °C difference in Pasir Mas modules. These temperature disparities highlight the uneven heat distribution and potential performance issues in the panels. This research contributes to the understanding of PV module degradation in tropical climates and aligns with sustainable development, climate change mitigation efforts, and SDG 7 by promoting sustainable energy solutions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524001971Photovoltaic ModulesAging MechanismPV DegradationPV Electrical CharacteristicsTropical ClimateSDGs |
| spellingShingle | Md. Imamul Islam Mohd Shawal Bin Jadin Ahmed Al Mansur Talal Alharbi Electrical Performance and Degradation Analysis of Field-Aged PV Modules in Tropical Climates: A Comparative Experimental Study Energy Conversion and Management: X Photovoltaic Modules Aging Mechanism PV Degradation PV Electrical Characteristics Tropical Climate SDGs |
| title | Electrical Performance and Degradation Analysis of Field-Aged PV Modules in Tropical Climates: A Comparative Experimental Study |
| title_full | Electrical Performance and Degradation Analysis of Field-Aged PV Modules in Tropical Climates: A Comparative Experimental Study |
| title_fullStr | Electrical Performance and Degradation Analysis of Field-Aged PV Modules in Tropical Climates: A Comparative Experimental Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrical Performance and Degradation Analysis of Field-Aged PV Modules in Tropical Climates: A Comparative Experimental Study |
| title_short | Electrical Performance and Degradation Analysis of Field-Aged PV Modules in Tropical Climates: A Comparative Experimental Study |
| title_sort | electrical performance and degradation analysis of field aged pv modules in tropical climates a comparative experimental study |
| topic | Photovoltaic Modules Aging Mechanism PV Degradation PV Electrical Characteristics Tropical Climate SDGs |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524001971 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mdimamulislam electricalperformanceanddegradationanalysisoffieldagedpvmodulesintropicalclimatesacomparativeexperimentalstudy AT mohdshawalbinjadin electricalperformanceanddegradationanalysisoffieldagedpvmodulesintropicalclimatesacomparativeexperimentalstudy AT ahmedalmansur electricalperformanceanddegradationanalysisoffieldagedpvmodulesintropicalclimatesacomparativeexperimentalstudy AT talalalharbi electricalperformanceanddegradationanalysisoffieldagedpvmodulesintropicalclimatesacomparativeexperimentalstudy |