Monitoring of Photovoltaic System Performance Using Outdoor Suns-VOC

Alexander C. Killam; Joseph F. Karas; André Augusto; Stuart G. Bowden

doi:10.1016/j.joule.2020.11.007

Monitoring of Photovoltaic System Performance Using Outdoor Suns-V_OC

Alexander C. Killam, Joseph F. Karas, André Augusto, Stuart G. Bowden

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Photovoltaics (PVs) have rapidly grown due to advancements in efficiency and cost. PV is projected to increase to 48% of all renewable generation by 2050, making it the fastest growing source of energy generation. More emphasis has been placed on reliability, as a path to reducing LCOE by improving degradation rates and system lifespans. We capitalize on Suns-V_OC, which is widely used for laboratory measurements of single solar cells, and discuss the barriers in extending the technique to outdoor systems of all sizes. The resulting data can provide a thorough analysis of impeding faults and degradation. Because Suns-V_OC is rather simple to implement on fielded systems, it can be a valuable tool for collecting the data needed to better understand how degradation mechanisms and climates impact different PV architectures. This work provides a scalable pathway to provide the industry with the information needed to achieve PV lifespans of beyond 50 years.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	210-227
Number of pages	18
Journal	Joule
Volume	5
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2020.11.007
State	Published - Jan 20 2021

Keywords

Suns-V
degradation
fill factor
outdoor characterization
performance monitoring
photovoltaics
power
pseudo parameters
reliability
temperature normalization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Energy(all)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.joule.2020.11.007

Cite this

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title = "Monitoring of Photovoltaic System Performance Using Outdoor Suns-VOC",

abstract = "Photovoltaics (PVs) have rapidly grown due to advancements in efficiency and cost. PV is projected to increase to 48% of all renewable generation by 2050, making it the fastest growing source of energy generation. More emphasis has been placed on reliability, as a path to reducing LCOE by improving degradation rates and system lifespans. We capitalize on Suns-VOC, which is widely used for laboratory measurements of single solar cells, and discuss the barriers in extending the technique to outdoor systems of all sizes. The resulting data can provide a thorough analysis of impeding faults and degradation. Because Suns-VOC is rather simple to implement on fielded systems, it can be a valuable tool for collecting the data needed to better understand how degradation mechanisms and climates impact different PV architectures. This work provides a scalable pathway to provide the industry with the information needed to achieve PV lifespans of beyond 50 years.",

keywords = "Suns-V, degradation, fill factor, outdoor characterization, performance monitoring, photovoltaics, power, pseudo parameters, reliability, temperature normalization",

author = "Killam, {Alexander C.} and Karas, {Joseph F.} and Andr{\'e} Augusto and Bowden, {Stuart G.}",

note = "Funding Information: This material is based upon work primarily supported by the Engineering Research Center Program of the National Science Foundation and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the Department of Energy under NSF Cooperative agreement no. EEC-1041895 . Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of NSF or DOE. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Elsevier Inc.",

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AU - Killam, Alexander C.

AU - Karas, Joseph F.

AU - Augusto, André

AU - Bowden, Stuart G.

N1 - Funding Information: This material is based upon work primarily supported by the Engineering Research Center Program of the National Science Foundation and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the Department of Energy under NSF Cooperative agreement no. EEC-1041895 . Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of NSF or DOE. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Elsevier Inc.

PY - 2021/1/20

Y1 - 2021/1/20

N2 - Photovoltaics (PVs) have rapidly grown due to advancements in efficiency and cost. PV is projected to increase to 48% of all renewable generation by 2050, making it the fastest growing source of energy generation. More emphasis has been placed on reliability, as a path to reducing LCOE by improving degradation rates and system lifespans. We capitalize on Suns-VOC, which is widely used for laboratory measurements of single solar cells, and discuss the barriers in extending the technique to outdoor systems of all sizes. The resulting data can provide a thorough analysis of impeding faults and degradation. Because Suns-VOC is rather simple to implement on fielded systems, it can be a valuable tool for collecting the data needed to better understand how degradation mechanisms and climates impact different PV architectures. This work provides a scalable pathway to provide the industry with the information needed to achieve PV lifespans of beyond 50 years.

AB - Photovoltaics (PVs) have rapidly grown due to advancements in efficiency and cost. PV is projected to increase to 48% of all renewable generation by 2050, making it the fastest growing source of energy generation. More emphasis has been placed on reliability, as a path to reducing LCOE by improving degradation rates and system lifespans. We capitalize on Suns-VOC, which is widely used for laboratory measurements of single solar cells, and discuss the barriers in extending the technique to outdoor systems of all sizes. The resulting data can provide a thorough analysis of impeding faults and degradation. Because Suns-VOC is rather simple to implement on fielded systems, it can be a valuable tool for collecting the data needed to better understand how degradation mechanisms and climates impact different PV architectures. This work provides a scalable pathway to provide the industry with the information needed to achieve PV lifespans of beyond 50 years.

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