SOLAREC: Mean time before failure of photovoltaic modules (MTBF-PVm)

• Unité de recherche: PCRD EU
• Numéro de projet: 99.0579
• Titre du projet anglais: SOLAREC: Mean time before failure of photovoltaic modules (MTBF-PVm)

Mots-clé (Anglais)

Clean energy; photovoltaic; mean time before failure

Autre Numéro de projet (Anglais)

EU project number: 15201-1999-07 SO

Programme de recherche (Anglais)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4b.1 Cleaner energy systems, including renewables

Description succincte (Anglais)

See abstract

Autres indications (Anglais)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana SUPSI
Dipartimento di costruzionie territorio

Partenaires et organisations internationales (Anglais)

Coordinator: Institute du JRC, Ispra (I)

Résumé des résultats (Abstract) (Anglais)

In May 1982, the first European grid-connected PV plant came into operation. The objective of this array was to provide a technologically advanced facility of medium size giving practical information for the planning of future photovoltaic plants.
In April 2000, in proximity to the 20-year design life of the plant, a collaboration between the LEEE- TISO and the ESTI Laboratory (JRC Ispra) started to determine the Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF) of the system and to investigate the physical degradation mechanism in action and to correlate field reliability with accelerated lifetime tests (IEC/CEI 61215).
Results show that, although it is not looking good from a visual aspect, the system is working in a very satisfactory manner.
Concerning IR analysis, hot-spots have been detected on 24% of modules. Hot-spots represent the principal cause of power degradation.
Outdoor strings measurements have been performed and the obtained data have been compared with the one of the same measurements executed in 1983. It has been a general comparison, as the plant configuration and the electrical wiring were changed in 1992 (inverter substitution). Results indicated no relevant strings performance losses.
Since June 2000, individual string energy production has been continuously monitored and recorded, allowing analysis and comparison of string behaviour. These data also show the seasonal variation of plant energy production, which is strongly influenced by ambient temperature.
Regarding the determination of the Mean Time Before Failure of the plant, it is reasonable to assume, on the basis of results obtained from accelerated lifetime tests, that the modules could continue to provide useful electrical power for another 10-15 years.

Références bases de données (Anglais)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0579