Quantifying the impacts of cell cracking in the field

Whether caused by manufacturing processes, improper handling during transit or installation, or by events in the field during operation, cell cracking presents a threat to the long-term performance of a PV plant.

This pv magazine Webinar in partnership with First Solar will investigate the prevalence of cracking and its impacts on plant performance, with data gathered from a wide range of crystalline silicon modules already installed and in operation, and examine how First Solar’s thin-film modules present a very different scenario when it comes to the risk of cracking.

During the webinar, Tristan Erion-Lorico, head of the PV module business at PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) will offer details on PVEL’s work to determine a module’s susceptibility to cracking via laboratory testing that goes well beyond certification standards.

Prakash Suratkar, CEO and co-founder of PV Diagnostics, will present data gathered from 2.5 GW of PV plants in locations across India. The plants offer representative samples, with projects that have been in operation from 1 to 10 years in different geographies and climatic conditions, with a variety of bill of materials and module technologies. Mr. Suratkar will discuss the types of cell cracking observed in this study and its impact on plant performance.

Anil Kottantharayil, Head of the Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Science at IIT Bombay, will share insights into the causes of cracking and how best to detect it, as well as the longer-term implications and further risks to module performance that can arise from a cracked cell.

First Solar VP of Product Management Lou Trippel will also be on hand to explain the very different risk profile of thin-film modules when it comes to cracking.

pv magazine Webinar content 

• Field observations of cell cracking and its impacts gathered from 2.5 GW of operational solar projects in India. 
• The causes of cracking and how it can lead to performance loss in a power plant. 
• How rigorous laboratory testing can determine a module’s susceptibility to cracking, and thus mitigate the risk for project stakeholders. 
• Examination of the different risk profiles for silicon and thin-film modules. 

Be part of the conversation! 

Questions can be submitted beforehand or during the webinar through a chat window. Mark Hutchins, Editor at pv magazine, will be the moderator of this pv magazine Webinar. We look forward to your participation!