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Analysis of initial stabilization of cell efficiency in amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules under real outdoor conditions

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  • Mateo, C.
  • Hernández-Fenollosa, M.A.
  • Montero, Á.
  • Seguí-Chilet, S.

Abstract

This contribution presents a field study in which the initial stabilization of thin-film amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) is investigated. Two grid-connected a-Si:H photovoltaic plants have been monitored and analyzed under real outdoor conditions. A per-unit approach is proposed to compare PV plants with differences in their electrical characteristic and the start-up date. The representation of a normalized per-unit PV power versus the accumulated incoming irradiation reveals an evolution that can be characterized through an exposure-response function. By this function, two populations of defects in the cells are detected. It is found that the stabilization process in the first year of operation produces a decrease of 10% in the peak power, equivalent to a decrease of 0.5% in cell efficiency. The use of the accumulated PSH for conducting the analysis of the initial stabilization produces similarities that cannot be obtained if a time scale is used. These results provide a powerful tool for PV plant designers because they enable a prediction to be made of the time-scale stabilization response in terms of unitary power, correlated with the peak sun hours received.

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  • Mateo, C. & Hernández-Fenollosa, M.A. & Montero, Á. & Seguí-Chilet, S., 2018. "Analysis of initial stabilization of cell efficiency in amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules under real outdoor conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 114-125.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:120:y:2018:i:c:p:114-125
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.12.054
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