Performance Testing (consistency, breakdown rate) of Crystalline PV Modules and its Energy Yield Comparison with other types in Composite Climate

Abstract

Photovoltaic Modules are designed to meet the reliability and safety requirements of national and international test standards. Qualification testing is a short duration (typically, 60-90 days) accerated testing protocol, and it may be considered as a minimum requirement to undertake consistency testing. The goal of qualification testing is to identify the initial short term consistency issues in the field, while the qualification testing/certification is primarily driven by marketplace requirements. This paper examines the recent consistency and failure rates of crystalline PV modules of different manufacturers over a period of one year conducted at Photovoltaic Testing Facility Lab, Solar Energy Centre, located in Gurgaon Region of Haryana (India) and its comparison with reliability studies of other PV technologies. This paper further reports the low irradiance behavior of PV modules kept under outdoor measurements resulting in significant differences within a given technology and effecting the final energy yield of different PV module types.