Analyzing Hail Impacts on PV Modules Using Computational Simulation.
Abstract not provided.
Hartley, James↗
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Power Loss Estimation for PV Modules with Cracked Cells
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Braid, Jennifer Lee [Sandia National Laboratories ↗
Technoeconomic Analysis of Robust PV Module Designs to Mitigate Glass Failure
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Braid, Jennifer Lee [Sandia National Laboratories ↗
Evaluating the causes of cost reduction in photovoltaic modules
Photovoltaic (PV) module costs have declined rapidly over forty years but the reasons remain elusive. Here we advance a conceptual framework and quantitative method for quantifying the causes of cost changes in a technology, and apply it to PV modules. Our method begins with a cost model that breaks down cost into variables that changed over time. Cost change equations are then derived to quantify each variable's contribution. We distinguish between changes observed in variables of the cost model – which we term low-level mechanisms of cost reduction – and research and development, learning-by-doing, and scale economies, which we refer to as high-level mechanisms. We find that increased module efficiency was the leading low-level cause of cost reduction in 1980–2012, contributing almost 25% of the decline. Government-funded and private R&D was the most important high-level mechanism over this period. After 2001, however, scale economies became a more significant cause of cost reduction, approaching R&D in importance. Policies that stimulate market growth have played a key role in enabling PV's cost reduction, through privately-funded R&D and scale economies, and to a lesser extent learning-by-doing. The method presented here can be adapted to retrospectively or prospectively study many technologies, and performance metrics besides cost.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Ballasted photovoltaic module and module arrays
A photovoltaic (PV) module assembly including a PV module and a ballast tray. The PV module includes a PV device and a frame. A PV laminate is assembled to the frame, and the frame includes an arm. The ballast tray is adapted for containing ballast and is removably associated with the PV module in a ballasting state where the tray is vertically under the PV laminate and vertically over the arm to impede overt displacement of the PV module. The PV module assembly can be installed to a flat commercial rooftop, with the PV module and the ballast tray both resting upon the rooftop. In some embodiments, the ballasting state includes corresponding surfaces of the arm and the tray being spaced from one another under normal (low or no wind) conditions, such that the frame is not continuously subjected to a weight of the tray.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Evaluating and predicting molecular mechanisms of adhesive degradation during field and accelerated aging of photovoltaic modules
Extending photovoltaic (PV) module lifetimes beyond 30 years is a goal of significant priority. A challenge that must first be addressed, however, is the development of a predictive reliability model that captures the synergy of terrestrial stressors on module degradation, particularly at encapsulant interfaces. Using a metrology designed specifically for PV modules, a comprehensive study of the widely used ethylene vinyl acetate encapsulant was performed in which encapsulant adhesion was evaluated as a function of environmental stressors (UV exposure, temperature, and humidity) for modules aged both under accelerated lab and internationally located field conditions for months to nearly 3 decades. Mechanical and chemical characterization methods are combined with fundamental polymer reaction engineering to unravel the degradation processes active at the molecular scale that lead to encapsulant delamination. An analytical and modular model framework is put forward enabling the prediction of long-term PV module durability, starting from fundamental principles at the molecular level and explicitly accounting for bond rupture events in the bulk encapsulant and at the encapsulant interfaces. Successful parameter tuning to adhesion data indicates a dominant occurrence of deacetylation, β-scission, and hydrolytic depolymerization, respectively. The model contributes to the longstanding challenge of predicting module lifetimes in any geographic location while minimizing time-consuming and costly aging studies.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Bracket for photovoltaic modules
Brackets for photovoltaic ("PV") modules are described. In one embodiment, a saddle bracket has a mounting surface to support one or more PV modules over a tube, a gusset coupled to the mounting surface, and a mounting feature coupled to the gusset to couple to the tube. The gusset can have a first leg and a second leg extending at an angle relative to the mounting surface. Saddle brackets can be coupled to a torque tube at predetermined locations. PV modules can be coupled to the saddle brackets. The mounting feature can be coupled to the first gusset and configured to stand the one or more PV modules off the tube.
42 ENGINEERING↗
Technoeconomic Analysis of Novel PV Plant Designs for Extreme Cost Reductions
This project sought to gain a deeper understanding of the cost and performance of future solar photovoltaic (PV) plant components, including bifacial PV modules, tandem PV modules, increased plant voltage architectures, and module-level power electronics, and how they may be integrated into new PV plant designs to significantly reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of PV. This was done through extensive modeling of current PV plants and future technologies in three different locations, informed by a comprehensive literature review and informational interviews to develop performance and cost assumptions for these technologies. Sensitivities were conducted to understand tradeoffs between different design options, such as the added energy from increasing row spacing versus additional land costs. An optimization tool was then created utilizing an evolutionary algorithm to determine an optimal PV plant configuration for a given set of technologies that resulted in minimized plant LCOE based upon typical performance and cost inputs.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Application of Electronics Packaging Fundamentals to Photovoltaic Interconnects and Packaging
The energy capacity of photovoltaic (PV) installations worldwide has increased significantly in the last decade, increasing the demand for rigorous investigation of the physical phenomena causing degradation and failures in PV modules. As PV reliability science develops, established methods and approaches from longer-standing industries can inform and expedite PV reliability advances. This work demonstrates how thermomechanical solder bond fatigue models derived for electronics packaging applications can be applied to both standard and emerging PV interconnect designs. This expertise cannot be directly translated to PV however, as target PV module lifetimes are significantly longer than most electronics and the modules must withstand the natural climate wherever they are deployed. Verification of analytical reliability models is then an additional challenge, due to model size, test time, and climate variability. Furthermore, unconventional materials, such as low-temperature solders, are now being integrated into PV designs, for which appropriate material models must be selected and material parameters derived. In this paper, the current state of PV interconnect research is explored, with an emphasis on the experimental and simulation approaches and models being used for this work. Recent results for standard module architectures as well as emerging interconnect schemes are discussed.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Life Cycle Inventory of Current Photovoltaic Module Recycling Processes in Europe
With the rapid and accelerating growth of PV module installation and an increase of PV modules from the nineteen eighties and nineties reaching the end of their 30 year lifespan, their proper end of life treatment gets into focus. This report deals with the approaches, the environmental impacts and the recovered materials of PV module recycling. In this report, the environmental life cycle assessment of the current generation recycling of crystalline silicon (c-Si) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV modules is described. Due to the still limited waste stream today, c-Si PV modules are mainly treated in recycling plants designed for treatment of laminated glass, metals or electronic waste. Only the bulk materials glass, aluminium and copper are recovered, while the cells and other materials such as plastics are incinerated. CdTe PV modules have been treated in dedicated recycling plants for many years and life cycle inventories of this process have been published. The semiconductor is recovered in addition to glass and copper. Life cycle inventories of the recycling of current c-Si and CdTe PV modules are compiled following two modelling approaches related to recycling. The cut-off approach uses economic allocation to divide the total efforts of the recycling process between the treatment of the used PV module and the recovered products. The end-of-life approach considers the recycling process separately from the potentially avoided burdens due to recovered materials. The life cycle inventories of c-Si PV module recycling are based on data obtained from four European recyclers surveyed between 2015 and 2016. For CdTe PV module recycling, the life cycle inventories were established based on published data for the First Solar recycling facility in Germany. The life cycle impact assessment is done based on six environmental indicators previously identified as most relevant for PV electricity: particulate matter, freshwater ecotoxicity, human toxicity non-cancer effects, human toxicity cancer effects, mineral, fossil and renewable resource depletion and climate change. The life cycle inventories according to the cut-off approach can be applied to complement existing life cycle inventory data on PV systems. The environmental impacts of the recycling of c-Si PV modules are very small (maximum 1.1 %) compared to the impacts caused by the production of a 3 kWp residential PV system mounted on a slanted roof. In the case of CdTe PV module recycling, the treatment of the PV panels has the highest but still rather minor contribution in the indicator climate change (4.8 %). The life cycle inventories according to the end-of-life approach allow an assessment of the net environmental benefits of recycling. The recovery of glass, metals, and semiconductor material from c-Si and CdTe PV modules causes lower environmental impacts than the extraction, refinement and supply of the respective materials from primary resources. The highest potential benefits are observed in the indicator mineral, fossil and renewable resource depletion. The data quality of the recycling of c-Si PV modules is classified as fair since only limited information is available. In contrast, the data quality of CdTe PV module recycling is considered very good. The study was financed by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) and carried out in the framework of the Task 12 of the Photovoltaic Powers System Programme (PVPS) of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Apparatuses to support photovoltaic modules
Methods and apparatuses to support photovoltaic ("PV") modules are described. A saddle bracket has a mounting surface to support one or more PV modules over a tube, a gusset coupled to the mounting surface, and a mounting feature coupled to the gusset to couple to the tube. A grounding washer has a first portion to couple to a support; and a second portion coupled to the first portion to provide a ground path to a PV module. A PV system has a saddle bracket; a PV module over the saddle bracket; and a grounding washer coupled to the saddle bracket and the PV module. Saddle brackets can be coupled to a torque tube at predetermined locations. PV modules can be coupled to the saddle brackets.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Recovery Act: A Low Cost Spray Deposited Solar PV Anti-Reflection Coating Final Technical Report
PV module glass is typically low iron glass which exhibits extremely low absorption of light at solar wavelengths. However, reflection losses from typical high quality solar glass are about 4.5% of the input solar energy. By applying an antireflection coating to the cover glass of their modules, a PV module maker will gain at least a 3% increase in the light passing through the glass and being converted to electricity. Thus achieving an increase of >3% in electricity output from the modules. This Project focussed on developing a process that deposits a layer of porous silica (SiO2) on glass or plastic components, and testing the necessary subcomponents and subsystems required to demonstrate the commercial technology. This porous layer acts as a broadband single layer AR coating for glass and plastics, with the added benefit of being a hydrophilic surface for low surface soiling.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Automated defect identification in electroluminescence images of solar modules
Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules are susceptible to manufacturing defects, mishandling problems or extreme weather events that can limit energy production or cause early device failure. Trained professionals use electroluminescence (EL) images to identify defects in modules, however, field surveys or inline image acquisition can generate millions of EL images, which are infeasible to analyze by rote inspection. Here, we develop a rapid automatic computer vision pipeline (~0.5 seconds/module) to analyze EL images and identify defects including cracks, intra-cell defects, oxygen-induced defects, and solder disconnections. Defect identification is achieved with a machine learning model (Random Forest, ResNet models and YOLO) trained on 762 manually-labeled EL images of PV modules. We compare model performance on an imbalanced real-world validation set containing 134 EL images and determine that ResNet18 and YOLO are the optimal models; we next evaluated these models on a dedicated testing set (129 module images) with resulting macro F1 scores of 0.83 (ResNet18) and 0.78 (YOLO). Using a field EL survey of a PV power plant damaged in a vegetation fire, we analyze 18,954 EL images (2.4 million cells) and inspect the spatial distribution of defects on the solar modules. The results find increased frequency of ‘crack’, ‘solder’ and ‘intra-cell’ defects on the edges of the solar module closest to the ground after fire. We also find an abnormal increase of striation rings on cells which were assumed to be caused mainly in fabrication process. Our methods are published as open-source software. It can also be used to identify other kinds of defects or process different types of solar cells with minor modification on models by transfer learning.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Technoeconomic analysis of perovskite/silicon tandem solar modules
Tandem photovoltaic (PV) modules offer an opportunity to improve the efficiency and energy yield of available solar resources compared with single-junction devices. Here, we present a cost model and sensitivity analysis of perovskite/silicon (Si) tandem modules to understand how design choices impact overall module costs. We find a minimum sustainable price (MSP) of $\$$0.428/W DC for our baseline two-terminal design and $\$$0.423/W DC for our baseline four-terminal design, each at a module efficiency of 25% and module production of 3 GW per year in the United States. We find that the choice of Si cell architecture, overall module efficiency, and factory throughput have the most significant impacts on cost and competitiveness. The dynamic model provided is designed for researchers, companies, and interested individuals to use and edit as needed to better understand the trade-offs among PV module technologies and enable targeted research to improve module design and fabrication.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Photovoltaic module with removable wind deflector
A photovoltaic (PV) module assembly including a PV module, a deflector, and a clip. The PV module includes a PV device and a frame. A PV laminate is assembled to the frame, and the frame includes a support arm forming a seat. The deflector defines a front face and a rear face, with the clip extending from either the trailing frame member or the rear face of the deflector. In a mounted state, the deflector is nested within the seat and is releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip. In some embodiments, the support arm forms a second seat, with the PV module assembly providing a second mounted state in which the deflector is in a differing orientation/slope, nested within the second seat and releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Photovoltaic module with removable wind deflector
A photovoltaic (PV) module assembly including a PV module, a deflector, and a clip. The PV module includes a PV device and a frame. A PV laminate is assembled to the frame, and the frame includes a support arm forming a seat. The deflector defines a front face and a rear face, with the clip extending from either the trailing frame member or the rear face of the deflector. In a mounted state, the deflector is nested within the seat and is releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip. In some embodiments, the support arm forms a second seat, with the PV module assembly providing a second mounted state in which the deflector is in a differing orientation/slope, nested within the second seat and releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip.
25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
Photovoltaic module with removable wind deflector
A photovoltaic (PV) module assembly including a PV module, a deflector, and a clip. The PV module includes a PV device and a frame. A PV laminate is assembled to the frame, and the frame includes a support arm forming a seat. The deflector defines a front face and a rear face, with the clip extending from either the trailing frame member or the rear face of the deflector. In a mounted state, the deflector is nested within the seat and is releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip. In some embodiments, the support arm forms a second seat, with the PV module assembly providing a second mounted state in which the deflector is in a differing orientation/slope, nested within the second seat and releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Passive Cooling of Photovoltaics with Desiccants
As part of efforts to reduce photovoltaic (PV) costs and improve reliability/durability, temperature control needs to be closely examined in a number of ways including novel passive cooling technology. Modest PV module operating temperature reductions can increase PV power output by 10% or more. The higher the operating temperature of a typical PV device, the lower the overall PV conversion efficiency. Because some incident light is converted to heat in PV cells, the PV module heats up (typically 25 degrees C above ambient temperature in full sun), and the overall energy output of the PV system is reduced (typically a 10% power loss for every 20 degrees C to 30 degrees C increase in temperature). We are integrating material on the PV module that adsorbs water from the air at night when the PV module temperature is cool and the relative humidity in the air is typically high. This sorbed water evaporates as the PV module heats up during the day, taking the excess heat with it and thus effectively cooling the PV module (see Fig. 1). Initial experiments with this novel passive cooling have demonstrated that PV module operating temperatures may be reduced nearly 30 degrees C with evaporative cooling. In this paper, we describe 1) novel materials development, 2) initial modeling that predicts how the cooling will work in different environments, and 3) results demonstrating the PV operating temperature reductions achieved to date.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗