One-year performance evaluation of two newly developed back-contact solar modules in two different climates

Abstract

To a certain extent, the photovoltaics industry is well developed, and the performance and expected yield of standard photovoltaic modules are well documented and researched. However, newer more efficient photovoltaic cell and module technologies are being developed all over the world. Outdoor testing of new photovoltaic technologies is very important to understand and validate their reliability and performance under different environmental conditions. For the first time, one year of monitored performance data is presented and analyzed for two high efficiencies interdigitated back contact prototype mini-modules at different locations, having different climates. The test results of a commercial hetero-junction with intrinsic thin-layer module are also presented for comparison. The results showed that the two mini-modules remained stable for the duration of the test period, and showed no signs of degradation. They did perform significantly differently due to the different climatic conditions. The results also show that the combination of ambient temperature difference together with relative humidity impacts the performance of the modules. Calculated outdoor yearly efficiencies are 19.05% and 18.36% for two integrated back contact mini-modules tested in Petten-Netherland and Ankara-Turkey, respectively. The temperature coefficients of the modules are also calculated and compared with two commercial photovoltaic modules. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.