Degradation analysis of Solar photovoltaic module under warm semiarid and tropical savanna climatic conditions of East Africa

Abstract

The successful implementation of solar PV projects require proper understanding of degradation mechanism and rates, which could vary significantly from one climatic condition to another. This is essential to accurately predict and estimate lifetime energy yield of solar PV installations. This study aimed to investigate the degradation mechanism and rates of solar photovoltaic PV modules in two climatic conditions of eastern Africa region. The I–V curve tracer, Trisen, infrared camera, and National Renewable Energy Laboratories (in USA) tools were used to collect the data. The results indicated power degradation rates of monocrystalline and polycrystalline as 0.99% per year and 1.15% per year, respectively, after 6 years of outdoor exposure under tropical savanna conditions. In addition, it was found that power degradation rates of silicon amorphous thin-film, monocrystalline and polycrystalline technologies as 1.44% and 1.22% per year, respectively, after 6 years of outdoor exposure under warm semiarid climatic conditions. The discoloration of encapsulating materials (36.84%) was observed as the predominant mode of degradation mechanism for polycrystalline in warm semiarid climatic conditions, while browning of encapsulating material is observed to be predominant mode in tropical savanna regions. In addition, the study develops the model for estimating the degradation rates of solar PV modules in warm semiarid climatic conditions.