Addressing potential-induced degradation of field-installed PV modules by reducing surface conductivity

Khuram Shahzad, Muhammad Shoaib Khalid, Ahmad Amin, Kiran Israr, Rahmanullah Khan, Jaewon Oh, Sai Tatapudi, Govindasamy Tamizhmani

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Potential-induced degradation (PID) has been one of the critical reliability issues in solar photovoltaic (PV) industry last several years. There are several PID mechanisms, but most well-known failure mechanism is the junction shunting, called PID-s. Cell p-n junction is shunted by sodium ion migration from PV module glass, which is due to leakage current caused by high potential difference between solar cell and aluminum frame of the module. Various methods preventing or reducing PID-s have been developed and used by the PV industry; however, those methods can be applied only at the manufacturing plants. We present a method of suppressing or preventing PID by interrupting surface conductivity of the glass, which can be applied to the field installed PV modules. In our previous study, we chose flexible Corning Willow Glass strips with ionomer adhesive to interrupt the surface conductivity of one-cell PV modules and multi-cell commercial PV modules. By applying the flexible Corning Willow Glass strips on the glass surface close to the frame inner edges, we experimentally demonstrated that PID-s can be practically eliminated in the full size commercial modules. In the current study, we investigated the surface conductivity interrupting technique by applying hydrophobic materials (instead of Corning Willow Glass) on the glass surface close to the inner edges of the frame. The module without any hydrophobic material suffered with 29% of power loss after the PID stress test whereas the module with hydrophobic material suffered with only 15% of power loss after the PID stress test. The current investigation indicates that the PID degradation can be significantly reduced using the hydrophobic materials but not eliminated as observed with the flexible Corning Willow Glass.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationNew Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion and Reliability
EditorsJeremy N. Munday, Michael D. Kempe, Peter Bermel
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510620896
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
EventNew Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion and Reliability 2018 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Aug 19 2018Aug 21 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume10759
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherNew Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion and Reliability 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period8/19/188/21/18

Keywords

  • Durability
  • PID
  • PV modules
  • Photovoltaics
  • Potential induced degradation
  • Reliability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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