@inproceedings{0be9590d6b4647cb830fd6aeed602c42,
title = "Failure and degradation modes and rates of PV modules in a hot-dry climate: Results after 16 years of field exposure",
abstract = "This study evaluates the frameless modules of same type (model B) in two 16-year old photovoltaic power (PV) systems to ascertain degradation rates, reliability failure modes and safety failure modes which occur in a hot-dry climate. Each system is composed of 1512 modules. The average degradation rate is determined to be 0.85%/year for the best modules and 1.1%/year for all the modules (excluding the safety failed modules). Primary safety failure mode is the backsheet delamination though it is small (less than 1.7%). Primary degradation mode and reliability failure mode may potentially be attributed to encapsulant browning leading to transmittance/current loss and thermo-mechanical solder bond fatigue (cell-ribbon and ribbon-ribbon) leading to series resistance increase. Under the typical 20/20 warranty terms, 0.5-1.7% of the modules qualify for the safety returns, 73-76% of the modules qualify for the warranty claims and 24-26% of the modules are meeting the warranty terms.",
keywords = "O&M, degradation, durability, hot dry desert, reliability, safety",
author = "K. Yedidi and S. Tatapudi and J. Mallineni and B. Knisely and J. Kutiche and G. Tamizhmani",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2014 IEEE.; 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2014 ; Conference date: 08-06-2014 Through 13-06-2014",
year = "2014",
month = oct,
day = "15",
doi = "10.1109/PVSC.2014.6925626",
language = "English (US)",
series = "2014 IEEE 40th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2014",
publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",
pages = "3245--3247",
booktitle = "2014 IEEE 40th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2014",
}