Light soaking effects on photovoltaic modules: Overview and literature review

Gostein, Michael; Dunn, Lawrence

doi:10.1109/pvsc.2011.6186605

Cited by 63 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…As the inverter is installed just behind the modules of the corresponding subsystem, losses in the DC wiring are negligible. The lowest losses are observed in CIS technology, and are even negative during the first two months of operation due to the increase at the initiation phase of the its efficiency [75], despite reaching highest module temperatures. The highest L C are observed in the CdTe/CdS technology from the outset and especially in the summer months.…”

Section: Energy Yield and Performance Ratiomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These programs predict performance ratios (PR) of between 75-90% when quality and well-sized materials and equipment are employed [7]. Commercial sizing programs such as PVSYST [9], PVSOL [16], SOLARPRO [17], etc., use the best available algorithms to evaluate and minimize energy losses caused by various causes, with the CIS technology where in the first hours of operation there is a positive increase in efficiency 7-15% [68,75,76]. In the case of the CdTe/CdS the first few hours of solar exposure can increase efficiency by 6-8% or suffer degradation 7-15% [69,75,77] depending on the cell design and production process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Commercial sizing programs such as PVSYST [9], PVSOL [16], SOLARPRO [17], etc., use the best available algorithms to evaluate and minimize energy losses caused by various causes, with the CIS technology where in the first hours of operation there is a positive increase in efficiency 7-15% [68,75,76]. In the case of the CdTe/CdS the first few hours of solar exposure can increase efficiency by 6-8% or suffer degradation 7-15% [69,75,77] depending on the cell design and production process. In a five year study, Rodziewicz et al [78] found that a-Si/µc-Si tandem technology had suffered a degradation of 10% of its nominal power, this value is higher than the loss suffered by mc-Si technology in the same period of time~7%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative Energy Performance Analysis of Six Primary Photovoltaic Technologies in Madrid (Spain)

Guerra

Tabernero

et al. 2017

Energies

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There are a wealth of studies on photovoltaic cell technologies, however their performance in different climatic or geographies over an extended period is not completely established. The objective of this paper is to add to this area of study with an analysis of the principle photovoltaic technologies: monocrystalline silicon (mc-Si), polycrystalline silicon (pc-Si), tandem structure of amorphous silicon and microcrystalline silicon (a-Si/µc-Si tandem), cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide (CdTe/CdS), copper-indium diselenide (CIS) and monocrystalline silicon with double contact back technology (mc-dc-Si), in the climatic conditions particular to the middle latitude urban environment of Madrid (Spain). To carry out this study six photovoltaic subsystems of peak power 1 kWp approximately have been installed for each selected technology on the roof of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Diseño Industrial (ETSIDI) of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) in Spain. Each subsystem has an inverter of the same model and power for its connection to the internal electricity network of the university. This paper analyzes the energy performance of the six subsystems, calculating the reference production rates and losses, from February 2013 to December 2015. The result of the study is the extensive capture of data and detailed analysis of real time energy yields and performance ratios of key technologies resulting with patterns in line with those of other regions with comparable climatic conditions.

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Section: Energy Yield and Performance Ratiomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative Energy Performance Analysis of Six Primary Photovoltaic Technologies in Madrid (Spain)

Guerra

Tabernero

et al. 2017

Energies

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“…IEC 61646) address the issue of the long-term stabilization of these devices, but not that of short-term variations which are necessary to draft a proper pre-conditioning procedure required for a correct power-rating [7]. Therefore, manufactures of polycrystalline thin film modules generally provide their own recommendation for light-soaking and stabilization procedures for their products [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current-soaking and dark storage effects of polycrystalline thin film solar modules

Dittmann

Virtuani

Friesen

et al. 2014

2014 IEEE 40th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC)

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Polycrystalline thin film modules as CIS and CdTe are known to exhibit metastabilities and performance changes with light exposure or dark storage. In this report the behavior of CIS and CdTe modules from different manufactures is investigated in terms of dark storage after a prolonged outdoor exposure and short preconditioning with current-soaking (CS), An approach which could be used to preserve the metastable state-a condition closer to real operating conditions -of the modules during a period of storage in the dark. We observed power losses up to -2% in the first hour and up to -11% after 10 days of dark storage. By using current-soaking changes in power could be recovered for most of the tested modules.

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“…[1], and references therein). Because observed metastabilities in CIGS devices are associated with changes in efficiency and other module parameters over time scales on the order of hours, these effects are important both for manufacturing process control (determining optimal procedures for in-factory performance evaluation) and for studies of installed field performance (analyzing PV module performance ratios throughout the course of a day or longer periods) [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light soaking measurements of commercially available CIGS PV modules

Dunn¹,

Gostein²

2012

2012 38th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference

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CIGS devices are known to exhibit metastabilities and performance changes with continuous light exposure, or light soaking (see Ref.[1], and references therein).Such metastabilities have an impact on the measurement of CIGS PV module performance, since efficiency and other parameters change on a time scale of hours. For this work we used an indoor continuous solar simulator to expose three commercially available CIGS modules from three different manufacturers to a simulated diurnal light exposure cycle for 16 days. We observed an initial increase in efficiency on the order of ~3% to ~5% at the start of each illumination cycle in all three modules. We also observed a a deviation of approximately -0.17%/°C between the measured value and data sheet value of one module's Pmax/efficiency temperature coefficient, indicating that this module have ~5% lower power output at normal operating temperatures that indicated by the datasheet. In a follow-on experiment, the time required for modules to relax in the dark to their low-efficiency states was investigated by varying the length of time spent in the dark. One module, with an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of ~9.3%, required between 2 and 3 hours in the dark to relax to its low efficiency state, while the other two modules, with PCEs of ~10.3%, require between 9 and 16 hours to relax to their low-efficiency states.

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Light soaking effects on photovoltaic modules: Overview and literature review

Cited by 63 publications

References 52 publications

Comparative Energy Performance Analysis of Six Primary Photovoltaic Technologies in Madrid (Spain)

Comparative Energy Performance Analysis of Six Primary Photovoltaic Technologies in Madrid (Spain)

Current-soaking and dark storage effects of polycrystalline thin film solar modules

Light soaking measurements of commercially available CIGS PV modules

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