Service life of photovoltaic power station generator sets

How do PV modules affect unit power generation costs?

Photovoltaic (PV) modules, as essential components of solar power generation systems, significantly influence unit power generation costs. The service life of these modules directly affects these costs. Over time, the performance of PV modules gradually declines due to internal degradation and external environmental factors.

Are service lifetime and degradation models suitable for PV modules?

The latest scientific work shows that service lifetime and degradation models for PV modules are of specific use if they combine different modelling approaches and include know-how and modelling parameters of the most relevant degradation effects.

What is the lifetime of a PV module?

Therefore, in the manufacturers’ context, the lifetime of a PV module is often defined as the time required for a PV module to lose its initial STC power by 20% (so-called degradation limit) . For outdoor degradation evaluations, statistical methods are commonly used.

How do we predict the life cycle of photovoltaic modules?

Wei et al. propose a PV prediction model based on the Wiener process, which also considers individual differences, and models the degradation of photovoltaic modules to predict life. In , the life cycle of PV modules is obtained by combining a Wiener process with an acceleration time model.

How to predict the service lifetime of PV modules?

To evaluate and predict the service lifetime of PV modules in real-world operating conditions, mathematical approaches are usually utilized , , . Physical and statistical methods have been commonly used and recently machine learning approaches are being applied.

What is the end-of-life of a PV module?

An overview of potential module failures, influencing factors and effects can be found in a previous report of IEA PVPS Task 13 . End-of-life is defined differently for PV modules, depending on the specific context or issue. The end-of-life is typically dependent on the use of the PV module and the specific conditions of the PV power plant.