Comparative Degradation Analysis of Emerging PV Module Technologies Undergoing Thermal Cycling

As solar panels increasingly become a main source of energy in harsh desert countries, their ability to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations becomes crucial for long-term reliability. This study investigates the effects of thermal cycling (TC) testing on the durability of three photovoltaic (PV) technologies—Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC), Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TopCon), and Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC)—to evaluate their resilience in desert climates. The study subjects the modules to 200 cycles according to IEC61215 standards. Electrical parameters, including short-circuit current (Isc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (FF), were measured before and after the test, while Electroluminescence (EL) imaging was used to detect physical damage. After 200 cycles, the degradation in electrical performance across all technologies was minimal, with performance losses below 1%. However, EL imaging detected physical damage, such as microcracks, particularly in IBC and TopCon modules, which could worsen with further testing. While the initial damage had little effect on electrical performance, extended testing is necessary to assess their long-term stability. The results suggest that further TC cycles are needed to reveal more substantial degradation, offering insights into module performance in extreme environments like deserts.