Performance degradation due to outdoor exposure and seasonal variation in amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules

• Published in: Thin solid films Vol. 661; pp. 116 - 121
• Main Authors: Choi, Sungwoo, Ishii, Tetsuyuki, Sato, Ritsuko, Chiba, Yasuo, Masuda, Atsushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2018
• Subjects: Degradation; Maximum power; Performance ratio; Photovoltaic; Staebler–Wronski effect; Thin-film silicon; Degradation; Staebler–Wronski effect; Photovoltaic; Maximum power; Performance ratio; Thin-film silicon
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2018.07.017

Thin-film silicon (Si) related photovoltaic (PV) modules suffer performance deterioration owing to outdoor exposure. We investigate the performance degradation and seasonal variation of hydrogenated amorphous Si (a-Si:H) related PV modules. The normalized maximum power (PMAX) of the single- and multi-junction modules tested herein decreased greatly and then stabilized after ~3 or 4 years of outdoor exposure. In summer (August 2016 and 2017), the PMAX of all a-Si:H related PV modules increased by 2.0%–3.8% over the PMAX in winter (December 2015 and 2016). In addition, the a-Si:H related PV modules show higher performance ratio (PR) in summer and lower in winter. These results are due to thermal annealing and light induced degradation effects in a-Si:H related PV modules. The a-Si:H related PV modules' PR two months after outdoor installation is lower than that before installation, which is explained by initial light exposure induced degradation. •The performance degradation of a-Si photovoltaic (PV) modules was investigated.•Indoor and outdoor performance of a-Si PV modules was mentioned.•The performance ratio of a-Si PV modules showed higher values in summer.