Multiple effects of potential-induced degradation on solar module performance
UK researchers have analyzed the multiple effects of PID on 28 modules at an outdoor testing field. The novel approach considered all multiple PID effects through a comprehensive analysis, which included power losses, hotspots, mm-level defects, and the performance ratio. Researchers from the University of York have conducted a standard test on the multiple effects […]
Reversible photovoltaic shade under the Madrid sky
The 8 kW photovoltaic shade was deployed on the outdoor rest area of a commercial building located in the northern part of Madrid. It was built with conventional solar modules provided by JA Solar and a structure made with light galvanized steel profiles for plasterboard partitions. Spanish architectural firm Ignacio Borrego Arquitectos has built a […]
SolarAPP+ permitting software reduces project times in pilot run
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released a free, web-based platform for automatic residential solar permit approvals. From pv magazine USA Last July, the US Department of Energy (DoE) and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP+), a free software program to automate residential solar permitting. The tool […]
Titanium wires-based anti-soiling coating to improve solar module yield
Researchers in Thailand have developed an anti-reflective and anti-soiling coating for commercial solar modules that is claimed to increase power yield by over 6%. The coating has photocatalytic properties that make the organic compounds adsorbed on the solar module surface decompose, thus preparing them to be easily washed off by rainwater. A group of scientists […]
Sun-tracking tessellated photovoltaic array for use in space-restricted areas
Created by scientists in Korea, the shape-transformable 3D PV system is claimed to be able to increase electricity yield by 60% over a day compared to a fixed flat panel due to the shorter shadow length and the bifacial effect obtained during shape transformation. The proposed system doesn’t need any machinery to follow the sun […]
Multi-level fin heat sinks for solar module cooling
Developed by Malaysian scientists, the proposed multi-level aluminum fin heat sinks (MLFHS) were found able to reduce the module operating temperature by up to 8.45 degrees Celsius and increase power yield by up to 10.75%. The system cost was estimated at $0.60/W. Scientists from the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia […]