Will This New Module Last? How Can We Predict Future Performance Without a Field History?

The Durable Module Materials consortium, or DuraMAT, focuses on precompetitive research needs in photovoltaic (PV) module packaging. This research collaboration includes participation from three national laboratories, several universities, leading companies, and an active Industry Advisory Board. This presentation discusses recent advances in the DuraMAT program, which have assessed current field-relevant concerns motivated by increased deployment of bifacial modules, considerations around cell and glass cracking, effects of changing interconnects, and software tools important in understanding degradation and module durability. Several of our projects have arrived at a consensus that the risks of cell cracks can be mitigated by increasing numbers of busbars in symmetrical glass-glass packages. However, those glass packages have become susceptible to glass breakage as the glass, frames, and mounting rails have gotten thinner. This has increased the importance of good system design for long term reliability. We have shown that stress testing based on expected environmental conditions is an effective screening method for quality and reliability issues in modules with new materials and designs. We are also working to understand the inevitable wear out of various module materials in order to move from qualitative screening to quantitative lifetime prediction.