PV degradation [RE-wrenches]

[Brian Teitelbaum]

Windy,

This is just anecdotal, but I still see full rated amps out of my twelve,
25-year-old, Arco 16-2000 modules. They are wired in pairs for 24V, and I'm
offgrid. 

In hot weather the output does drop off somewhat, but I would expect that
from a 33-cell module. I make more power then I use in the summertime, so
this has never been a problem.

No way have they lost 12.5 - 25%, at least not on the "current" side of the
equation.

One of these days I'll have to do a real power test on them.

Brian Teitelbaum
AEE Solar



-----Original Message-----
From: Windy Dankoff [mailto:windydankoff at mac.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 8:51 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: PV degradation [RE-wrenches]



Wrenches,

Perhaps you can help  me answer a question for "Ask The Experts"  
column in Home Power. It regards degradation of PV modules.

There seems to be some agreement on a norm of about 1/2% per year  
degradation (not due to dirt). This is a rough average, of course.Is  
there any general agreement on WHY this happens?

I think it's the average of a variety of factors, but if you have  
data on this issue, it may be helpful.

Also, if you have factual data on percentages of failures rates of PV  
over a long period, that will help too.

Thanks!
Windy


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