干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The primary focus of this paper is the reliability / failure evaluation of a 26-year-old photovoltaic (PV) monocrystalline silicon (c-Si) system located in Phoenix, Arizona (a hot-dry desert condition). This 4000-frameless-module bipolar system was originally installed in August 1985 with a rated capacity of 175 kW (17 fixed south tilt). This paper presents only the degradation and failure modes, and the degradation rate and its determination of this power plant is presented in another/twin paper of this conference. The results obtained from the extensive visual inspections and other non-intrusive tests made on the entire plant were used to determine the degradation and wear-out failure modes. The encapsualnt browning, cell gridline blossoming, cell-ribbon solder bond degradation, ribbon/metal-strip (copper) attachment degradation/break outside the modules, cell cracks and backsheet delamination have been determined to be the degradation and/or wear-out failure modes of these 26 years old modules in this specific hot-dry desert climate.