Potential-Induced Degradation in Photovoltaic Modules: A Critical Review

Wei Luo, Yong Sheng Khoo, Peter Hacke, Volker Naumann, Dominik Lausch, Steven P. Harvey, Jai Prakash Singh, Jing Chai, Yan Wang, Armin G. Aberle, Seeram Ramakrishna

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

353 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Potential-induced degradation (PID) has received considerable attention in recent years due to its detrimental impact on photovoltaic (PV) module performance under field conditions. Both crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin-film PV modules are susceptible to PID. While extensive studies have already been conducted in this area, the understanding of the PID phenomena is still incomplete and it remains a major problem in the PV industry. Herein, a critical review of the available literature is given to serve as a one-stop source for understanding the current status of PID research. This paper also aims to provide an overview of future research paths to address PID-related issues. This paper consists of three parts. In the first part, the modelling of leakage current paths in the module package is discussed. The PID mechanisms in both c-Si and thin-film PV modules are also comprehensively reviewed. The second part summarizes various test methods to evaluate PV modules for PID. The last part focuses on studies related to PID in the omnipresent p-type c-Si PV modules. The dependence of temperature, humidity and voltage on the progression of PID is examined. Preventive measures against PID at the cell, module and system levels are illustrated. Moreover, PID recovery in standard p-type c-Si PV modules is also studied. Most of the findings from p-type c-Si PV modules are also applicable to other PV module technologies.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)43-68
Number of pages26
JournalEnergy and Environmental Science
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2017.

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-5J00-67341

Keywords

  • leakage current
  • p-type c-Si modules
  • PID
  • potential-induced degradation
  • test methods

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