The Sturdy Module Supplies consortium (DuraMAT) introduced in its newest annual report the supply of latest PV forecasting instruments, and new analysis outcomes in the direction of the aim of extra dependable PV modules.
The Sturdy Module Supplies (DuraMAT) consortium, established by america Division of Vitality’s Photo voltaic Vitality Know-how Workplace (SETO), has launched its newest annual report with information concerning the availability of latest PV forecasting instruments and new analysis about sure module degradation developments.
DuraMAT reported the outcomes of its concentrate on reliability forecasting in 2023, pushed by the remark that the PV trade is “innovating so shortly that the efficiency of modules within the area is not all the time a dependable indicator of what is going to occur sooner or later.”
“We awarded six initiatives below our reliability forecasting name this yr,” stated Teresa Barnes, DuraMAT director and DOE Nationwide Renewable Vitality Laboratory (NREL) researcher in a press launch.
The reliability forecasting initiatives addressed ultraviolet-induced degradation, glass fracture mechanics, and degradation mechanisms in encapsulants, in addition to find out how to do sooner evaluation of failure information. Because of this, DuraMAT now has a set of software program instruments and information units, a few of which depend on quantitative modeling and fast validation applied sciences. The instruments cowl matters corresponding to mechanical fashions for supplies, wind loading, fracture mechanics, moisture diffusion, and irradiance, and can be found within the DuraMAT Information Hub.
“Drawing insights from all these areas ought to give us the potential to foretell the long-term reliability of latest module designs,” acknowledged Barnes.
Two degradation mechanisms that acquired particular consideration from DuraMAT in 2023 are cell cracking and ultraviolet (UV) degradation. “Cracked cells are a problem for the photo voltaic trade as a result of they will scale back output however typically go unnoticed,” stated the workforce. Research have been carried out on quantifying and addressing cell cracking.
“Researchers discovered that some newer modules with many busbars, half-cut cells, and glass–glass encapsulation are extra tolerant of cracked cells and fewer prone to present energy loss,” it stated. An final result of the analysis is WhatsCracking, a free cell fracture prediction utility to help in making modules which are much less delicate to cell breakage. For instance, designing modules that rotate half-cells at 90-degree angles to cut back the possibility of cracking below load, as reported in pv journal. The WhatsCracking app is likely one of the instruments within the DuraMAT Information Hub.
DuraMAT researchers additionally discovered that UV-induced degradation is a big subject in sure high-efficiency merchandise. “These outcomes are necessary, because the elevated degradation associated to UV publicity in fashionable cell varieties might offset a number of the beneficial properties predicted from bifacial and different high-efficiency cells,” stated the workforce, including that DuraMAT will probably be beginning new work to quantify this sort of degradation in 2024.
The DuraMAT consortium, which is led by the DOE’s Nationwide Renewable Vitality Laboratory (NREL), with participation by Sandia Nationwide Laboratories and Lawrence Berkeley Nationwide Laboratory, features a 22-member board of photo voltaic trade professionals.
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