Polymer encapsulation impact on potential-induced degradation in PV modules revealed by a multi-modal field study

Potential-induced degradation is a significant issue affecting the performance and reliability of photovoltaic systems, particularly in large-scale installations. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the formation of potential-induced degradation is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies and ensuring the long-term sustainability of solar energy technologies. During the inspection of a 1.2 MWp photovoltaic power plant, various imaging methods, electrical measurements, spectroscopic characterization methods, and monitoring data analyses were utilized and combined. We observed that two percent of the photovoltaic modules at the string ends exhibited the characteristic checkerboard pattern in infrared or electroluminescence imaging, implicating issues on twelve percent of all strings. This uneven distribution of potential-induced degradation-affected modules suggests additional key factors are at play. Investigations of the backsheet and ethylene-vinyl acetate using near-infrared reflectance analysis revealed that one backsheet type and two different ethylene-vinyl acetate types were present in the installed solar panels. Yet, only one type of ethylene-vinyl acetate correlated with potential-induced degradation. The same type also exhibited a higher rate of oxidative degradation. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed a significantly increased sodium ion content in the ethylene-vinyl acetate and glass of the potential-induced degradation-affected modules. Our findings highlight the crucial role of polymer encapsulation in the development of potential-induced degradation and underscore the importance of careful polymer selection in the design of photovoltaic module technologies.