A Study of the Electrical Output and Reliability Characteristics of the Crystalline Photovoltaic Module According to the Front Materials

Jong Rok Lim, Woo Gyun Shin, Chung Geun Lee, Yong Gyu Lee, Young Chul Ju, Suk Whan Ko, Jung Dong Kim, Gi Hwan Kang and Hyemi Hwang
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Jong Rok Lim: Photovoltaic Laboratory, New and Renewable Energy Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Woo Gyun Shin: Photovoltaic Laboratory, New and Renewable Energy Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Chung Geun Lee: Photovoltaic Laboratory, New and Renewable Energy Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Yong Gyu Lee: Photovoltaic Laboratory, New and Renewable Energy Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Young Chul Ju: Photovoltaic Laboratory, New and Renewable Energy Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Suk Whan Ko: Photovoltaic Laboratory, New and Renewable Energy Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Jung Dong Kim: General Administration Division, Strategy & Management Executive Director, Korea Energy Agency, Jung-gu, Ulsan 44538, Korea
Gi Hwan Kang: Photovoltaic Laboratory, New and Renewable Energy Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Hyemi Hwang: Photovoltaic Laboratory, New and Renewable Energy Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea

Energies, 2020, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: In recent years, various types of installations such as floating photovoltaic (PV) and agri-voltaic systems, and BIPV (building integrated photovoltaic system) have been implemented in PV systems and, accordingly, there is a growing demand for new PV designs and materials. In particular, in order to install a PV module in a building, it is important to reduce the weight of the module. The PV module in which low-iron, tempered glass is applied to the front surface, which is generally used, has excellent electrical output and reliability characteristics; however, it is heavy. In order to reduce the weight of the PV module, it is necessary to use a film or plastic-based material, as opposed to low-iron, tempered glass, on the front surface. However, if a material other than glass is used on the front of the PV module, various problems such as reduced electrical output and reduced reliability may occur. Therefore, in this paper, a PV module using a film instead of glass as the front surface was fabricated, and a characteristic analysis and reliability test were conducted. First, the transmittance and UV characteristics of each material were tested, and one-cell and 24-cell PV modules were fabricated and tested for electrical output and reliability. From the results, it was found that the transmittance and UV characteristics of the front material were excellent. In addition, the electrical output and reliability test results confirmed that the front-surface film was appropriate for use in a PV module.

Keywords: c-Si photovoltaic module; lightweight PV module; ethylene tetra fluoro-ethylene (ETFE) film; ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) film; ultra-barrier film; reliability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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