Outdoor Testing and Degradation of EVA and POE Encapsulated Photovoltaic Modules

Using both EVA and POE encapsulants, we fabricated polycrystalline Si PV modules and performed a set of reliability tests of PID, DH, TC, and Complex prior to outdoor installation. The power output with temperatures and insolation as well as I-V characteristics had been monitored under outdoor environments for 18 months. In the entire period, the total power of 3,576 kWh from POE PV modules was observed larger than 3,449 kWh from EVA PV modules by 3.5%. All the PV modules showed a 5.6~9.2% drop in the conversion efficiency. As for the solar power generation, the PV modules performed through PID, TC test revealed distinct difference in between EVA and POE for which the POE PV module produced more power by +11.4% and +6.6%, respectively, as measured in the 18th month. In addition, POE was proved to protect better the solar cells under PID influence.