Estudio de técnicas invasivas y no invasivas para evaluar el deterioro de paneles solares fotovoltaicos

Abstract

Nowadays, the use of renewable energies is part of the actions that allow mitigating the impending climate change, these contribute to the replacement of polluting sources. In this sense photovoltaic solar energy, one of the unconventional renewable energies with greater capacity installed worldwide, is studied in different ways given their importance, which is why in this study an analysis of the different modes of invasive and non-invasive deterioration that can occur in a photovoltaic panel is accomplished on the main component of this a photovoltaic solar generation system. This study analyzes the phenomena of deterioration in the solar panels such as delamination, fading, cracks in photovoltaic cells, hot spots and Potential Induced Degradation (PID) with the respective common percentages of power reduction. A review of the deterioration detection techniques and equipment required to perform the deterioration assessment is performed. This aspect describes the studies carried out on thermography, electroluminescence and analysis of characteristic curves tests of the photovoltaic panels under study. Once the deterioration modes and techniques for their detection are known, a technical analysis is carried out on the deterioration of the existing panels in the photovoltaic installation of University of Cuenca’s micro-grid. The analysis of the main deterioration modes found and their impact on the power of photovoltaic panels is performed. Thermography, electroluminescence and I-V curve tracing tests are carried out to determine the deterioration of the panels. These tests were carried out with professional equipment and with low-cost equipment. It is found that 70% of monocrystalline panels and 28% of polycrystalline panels have some anomaly. Based on the study, an estimate is made of the percentage of power loss, to perform an economic analysis and determine the devaluation of the panels, analyzing market costs, power loss and the projection of generated power. It is concluded that the photovoltaic installation of the University of Cuenca has a 6.45% deterioration, and the power projection method presents a 2.04% error