To find out whether a module is susceptible to potential-induced degradation, you can conduct stress tests in a climate chamber. These tests are designed to induce potential-induced degradation and reach stress levels at or beyond what a module would likely experience in the field. That is what the standard says, at any rate. But researchers at Germany’s Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research have now confirmed long-standing doubts about the reliability of the standard test for highly stressed modules in 1,500 V power plants. One solution is tougher testing and better materials selection.
ZSW scientists compare PID tests with findings from the field at an outdoor test site in Widderstall, Germany. The results indicate that the output of a PID-prone module would drop by half over 20 years, even if it passed the standard test.
Image: ZSW/Alexander Fischer
Stay informed
pv magazine is the leading trade media platform covering the global solar photovoltaics industry. Log in or purchase a digital or print version of this issue to read this article in full.
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
