Investigation of PV Module Degradation in Fixed Structure and Single-Axis Tracker in Hot Desert Climate

In the rapidly evolving field of photovoltaic (PV) technology, understanding the impact of environmental conditions on module performance is crucial for optimizing energy production and ensuring longevity. In a year of PV module operation, this paper investigates the early degradation patterns caused by the desert climate. PERC PV modules (monofacial and bifacial) with smart multi-busbar half-cut technology of a tier-1 manufacturer exhibited increased darkness of cells in electroluminescence (EL) images after outdoor exposure. Early discoloration patterns, featuring filled patterns, were observed in fluorescence images. Importantly, these degradation modes were consistent across both single-axis trackers and fixed structures (25-degree tilt angle). High Voc deterioration has been observed in all the modules. The indoor results show that the monofacial fixed tracker module saw a power loss of roughly 2.24%. Whereas 3.23% and 4.55% for bifacial and monofacial modules, respectively on single axis tracker.