Advanced Degradation Modelling of Photovoltaic Modules and Materials

ABSTRACT: The recently started Austrian R&D project “ADVANCE! - Advanced Degradation Modelling of Photovoltaic Modules and Materials!”, a collaboration of Austrian applied science research and a module manufacturer, addresses innovative and complex statistical and data processing methods to enhance analysis and modelling of climate related degradation processes of photovoltaic modules. As a starting point, data from a previous project, that dealt with module design adaption to different outdoor climatic conditions, will be used, and enhanced by additional data derived from measurements and observations. In the first step the focus is on applying data science approaches on PV module stress testing results to achieve insight in underlying PV module degradation processes and to support manufacturing. An example for applying mixed effects modelling on power degradation data from 6-cell mini modules by means of pairwise comparison of aging actions using a base action, and one with an additional stress, is given, resulting in relative degradation values. Beside investigations on mini modules with identical BOM and different aging actions applied, variations in modules BOM are also investigated. In the next steps feature extraction from data will be continued and network structural equation models implemented. Of course, outdoor data analysis is necessary too, to understand module and system performance