Photovoltaic Reliability Publications
NREL publishes photovoltaic (PV) reliability journal articles, technical reports, conference papers, and outreach documents. Explore a sampling of our most recent or often-cited publications on PV reliability topics.
The publications are organized by the following topics:
- PV outdoor studies
- Accelerated testing and failure analysis
- Standards development.
- Power Electronics
PV Outdoor Studies
Davis, K.; Kurtz, S.R.; Jordan, D.C.; Wohlgemuth, J.H.; Sorloaica-Hickman, N. (2011). "Multi-Pronged Analysis of Degradation rates of Photovoltaic Modules and Arrays Deployed in Florida," submitted to Progress in Photovoltaics. NREL/JA-5200-51769.
del Cueto, J.A.; Rummel, S.R. (2010). "Degradation of Photovoltaic Modules Under High Voltage Stress in the Field," Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems III: SPIE Conference, 3-5 August 2010, San Diego, California. NREL/CP-520-47563.
Deline, C. (2010). "Partially Shaded Operation of Multi-String Photovoltaic Systems," 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10), 20-25 June 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii. NREL/CP-520-46001.
Cronin, A.; Pulver, S.; Cormode, D.; Jordan, D.; Kurtz, S.; Smith, R. (2011). "Measuring Degradation Rates without Irradiance Data," submitted to Progress in Photovoltaics. NREL/JA-5200-49385.
Jordan, D.C.; Kurtz, S.R. (2010). "Analytical Improvements in PV Degradation Rate Determination," 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10), 20-25 June 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii. pp. 002688-002693. NREL/CP-520-47596.
Jordan, D.C.; Smith, R.M.; Osterwald, C.R.; Gelak, E.; Kurtz, S.R. (2010). "Outdoor PV Degradation Comparison," 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10), 20-25 June 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii. NREL/CP-520-47704.
Jordan, D.C. (2011). "Methods for Analysis of Outdoor Performance Data," 2011 Photovoltaic Module Reliability Workshop, 16-17 February 2011, Golden, Colorado. NREL/PR-5200-51120.
Jordan, D.C.; Kurtz, S.R. (2011). "Module Reliability Trends," SolarPro 4(1), pp. 24-28. NREL/JA-5200-49215.
Jordan, D.C.; Kurtz, S.R. (2011). "Photovoltaic Degradation Rates — An Analytical Review," accepted, Progress in Photovoltaics. NREL/JA-5200-51664.
Jordan, D.C.; Kurtz, S.R. (2011). "Thin-Film Reliability Trends Toward Improved Stability," 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '11), 19-24 June 2011, Seattle, Washington. NREL/CP-5200-50726.
Muller, M.; Marion, B.; Kurtz, S.; Rodriguez, J. (2010). "An Investigation into Spectral Parameters as they Impact CPV Module Performance," Proc. 6th International Conference on Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems (CPV-6), 7-9 April 2010, Freiburg, Germany. NREL/CP-520-47959.
Muller, M.; Deline, C.; Marion, B.; Kurtz, S.; Bosco, N. (2011). "Determining Outdoor CPV Cell Temperature," 7th International Conference on Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems (CPV-7), 4-6 April 2011, Las Vegas, Nevada. NREL/CP-5200-51338.
Pulver, S.; Cormode, D.; Cronin, A.; Jordan, D.; Kurtz, S.; Smith, R. (2010). "Measuring Degradation Rates without Irradiance Data," 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10), 20-25 June 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii. NREL/CP-520-47597.
Smith, R.M.; Kurtz, S.; Sekulic, B. (2011). "Back-of-Module Temperature Measurement Methods," SolarPro, October/November 2011, pp. 90-104. NREL/JA-5200-52213.
Accelerated Testing and Failure Analysis
Albin, D.S.; del Cueto, J.A. (2010). "Correlations of Capacitance-Voltage Hysteresis with Thin-film CdTe Solar Cell Performance During Accelerated Lifetime Testing," 2010 IEEE International Reliability Physics Symposium (IRPS), 2-6 May 2010, Garden Grove, California. NREL/CP-520-47761.
Albin, D.S.; del Cueto, J.A. (2010). "Effect of Hysteresis on Measurements of Thin-Film Cell Performance,"Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems III: SPIE Conference, 3-5 August 2010, San Diego, California. NREL/CP-520-48996.
Albin, D.S.; del Cueto, J.A.; Demtsu, S.H.; Bansal, S. (2010). "Use of 2nd and 3rd Level Correlation Analysis for Studying Degradation in Polycrystalline Thin-Film Solar Cells," 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10), 20-25 June 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii. NREL/CP-520-48393.
Alers, G.; Zhou, J.Q.; Deline, C.; Hacke, P.; Kurtz, S.R. (2010). "Degradation of Individual Cells in a Module Measured with Differential IV Analysis," Progress in Photovoltaics 19(8), pp. 977-982. NREL/JA-5200-47218.
Bosco, N.; Kurtz, S. (2010). "Quantifying the Thermal Fatigue of CPV Modules," 6th International Conference on Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems (CPV-6), 7-9 April 2010, Freiburg, Germany. NREL/CP-520-47128.
Bosco, N.; Kurtz, S. (2011). "Quantifying the Thermal Fatigue of Concentrating Photovoltaic Modules," Advancing Microelectronics 38(1), p. 6. NREL/JA-5200-49875.
Bosco, N.; Silverman, T.; Kurtz, S. (2011). "Modeling Thermal Fatigue in CPV Cell Assemblies," 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '11), 19-24 June 2011, Seattle, Washington. NREL/CP-5200-50685.
Bosco, N.; Sweet, C.; Silverman, T.; Kurtz, S. (2011). "CPV Cell Infant Mortality Study," 7th International Conference on Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems (CPV-7), 4-6 April 2011, Las Vegas, Nevada. NREL/CP-5200-51337.
Dameron, A.A.; Miller, D.C.; George, N.; To, B.; Ginley, D.S.; Simpson, L. (2011). "Tensile Strain and Water Vapor Transport Testing of Flexible, Conductive and Transparent IZO/Ag/IZO Thin Films," Thin Solid Films 519(10), pp. 3177-3184. NREL/JA-5200-50561.
del Cueto, J.A.; Deline, C.A.; Rummel, S.R.; Anderberg, A. (2010). "Progress Toward A Stabilization And Preconditioning Protocol For Polycrystalline Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules," 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10), 20-25 June 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii. NREL/CP-520-47748.
Deline, C.A.; del Cueto, J.; Albin, D.S.; Petersen, C.; Tyler, L.; TamizhMani, G. (2011). "Transient Response of Cadmium Telluride Modules to Light Exposure," 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '11), 19-24 June 2011, Seattle, Washington. NREL/CP-5200-50744.
Deline, C.A.; del Cueto, J.A.; Albin, D.S.; Rummel, S.R. (2011). "Metastable Electrical Characteristics of Polycrystalline Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules upon Exposure and Stabilization," Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems IV: Proceedings of SPIE Conference, 22-24 August 2011, San Diego, California. NREL/CP-5200-52441.
Hacke, P.; Terwilliger, K.; Glick, S.; Trudell, D.; Bosco, N.; Johnston, S.; Kurtz, S. (2010). "Test-to-Failure of Crystalline Silicon Modules," 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10), 20-25 June 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii. NREL/CP-520-47755.
Hacke, P.; Glick, S.; Smith, S.; Kempe, K.; Johnston, S.; Pankow, J.; Kurtz, S. (2011). "Potential-Induced Degradation and Failure of Modules by System Voltage Stress," 21st Workshop on Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells & Modules: Materials and Processes, 31 July-3 August 2011, Breckenridge, Colorado (invited talk; published in proceedings).
Hacke, P.; Terwilliger, K.; Smith, R.; Glick, S.; Pankow, J.; Kempe, M.; Kurtz, S.; Bennett, I.; Kloos, M. (2011). "System Voltage Potential-Induced Degradation Mechanisms in PV Modules and Methods for Test," 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '11), 19-24 June 2011, Seattle, Washington. NREL/CP-5200-50716.
Kempe, M.D. (2010). "Ultraviolet Light Test and Evaluation Methods for Encapsulants of Photovoltaic Modules," Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 94(2). pp. 246-253. NREL/JA-520-46699.
Kempe, M.D.; Dameron, A.A.; Moricone, T.J.; Reese, M.O. (2010). "Evaluation and Modeling of Edge Seal Materials for Photovoltaic Applications," 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10), 20-25 June 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii. NREL/CP-520-47706.
Kempe, M.D. (2011). "Overview of Scientific Issues Involved in Selection of Polymers for PV Applications," 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '11), 19-24 June 2011, Seattle, Washington. NREL/CP-5200-50840.
Kurtz, S.; Whitfield, K. (2011). "Photovoltaic Modules Must Take the Heat," Advancing Microelectronics 38(1), p. 10. NREL/JA-5200-49784.
Kurtz, S.; Whitfield, K.; TamizhMani, G.; Koehl, M.; Miller, D.; Joyce, J.; Wohlgemuth, J.; Bosco, N.; Kempe, M.; Zgonena, T. (2011). "Evaluation of High-Temperature Exposure of Photovoltaic Modules," Progress in Photovoltaics 19(8); NREL/JA-5200-47673.
Miller, D.C.; Gedvilas, L.M.; To, B.; Kennedy, C.E.; Kurtz, S.R. (2010). "Durability of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Lenses Used in Concentrating Photovoltaic Modules," Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems III: SPIE Conference, 3-5 August 2010, San Diego, California. NREL/CP-520-47604.
Miller, D.C.; Kempe, M.D.; Glick, S.H.; Kurtz, S.R. (2010). "Creep in Photovoltaic Modules: Examining the Stability of Polymeric Materials and Components," 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10), 20-25 June 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii. NREL/CP-520-47718.
Miller, D.C.; Kempe, M.D.; Kennedy, C.E.; Kurtz, S.R. (2011). "Analysis of Transmitted Optical Spectrum Enabling Accelerated Testing of Multijunction CPV Designs," Optical Engineering 50(1), 013003. NREL/JA-5200-49119.
Miller, D.C.; Kurtz, S.R. (2011). "Durability of Fresnel Lenses: A Review Specific to the Concentrating Photovoltaic Application," Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 95(8), 2037-2068. NREL/JA-5200-49318.
Miller, D.C.; Muller, M.T.; Kempe, M.D.; Araki, K.; Kennedy, C.E.; Kurtz, S.R. (2011). "The Durability of Polymeric Encapsulation Materials for Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems," submitted to Progress in Photovoltaics. NREL/JA-5200-52177.
Moseley, J.; Miller, D.; Shah, Q.-U.-A.S.J.; Sakurai, K.; Kempe, M.; TamizhMani, G.; Kurtz, S. (2011). "Use of Melt Flow Rate Test in Reliability Study of Thermoplastic Encapsulation Materials in Photovoltaic Modules," NREL Technical Report. NREL/TP-5200-52586.
Reese, M.O.; Dameron, A.A.; Kempe, M.D. (2011). "Quantitative Calcium Resistivity Based Method for Accurate and Scalable Water Vapor Transmission Rate Measurement," Review of Scientific Instruments 82(8). NREL/JA-5200-52033.
Reese, M.O., et al. (2011). "Consensus Stability Testing Protocols for Organic Photovoltaic Materials and Devices," Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 95(5), pp. 1253-1267. NREL/JA-5200-51613.
Wohlgemuth, J.H.; Kempe, M.; Miller, D.; Kurtz, S. (2011). "Developing Standards for PV Packaging Materials," Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems IV: Proceedings of SPIE Conference, 22-24 August 2011, San Diego, California. pp. 8812-09. NREL/CP-5200-52639.
Wohlgemuth, J.H.; Kurtz, S. (2011). "Using Accelerated Testing to Predict Module Reliability," 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '11), 19-24 June 2011, Seattle, Washington. NREL/CP-5200-50646.
Standards Development
Kurtz, S.; Muller, M.; Marion, B.; Emery, K.; McConnell, R.; Surendran, S.; Kimber, A. (2010). "Considerations for How to Rate CPV," 6th International Conference on Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems (CPV-6), 7-9 April 2010, Freiburg, Germany. NREL/CP-520-47127.
Kurtz, S.; Wohlgemuth, J.; Hacke, P.; Bosco, N.; Kempe, M.; Smith, R.; Packard, C.E. (2011). "The Challenge to Move From ‘One Size Fits All' to PV Modules the Customer Needs," 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC), 5-8 September 2011, Hamburg, Germany. NREL/CP-5200-52672.
Kurtz, S.; Wohlgemuth, J.; Sample, T.; Yamamichi, M.; Amano, J.; Hacke, P.; Kempe, M.; Kondo, M.; Doi, T.; Otani, K. (2011). "Ensuring Quality of PV Modules," 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '11), 19-24 June 2011, Seattle, Washington. NREL/CP-5200-50651.
Wohlgemuth, J.H.; Kurtz, S. (2011). "Reliability Testing Beyond Qualification as a Key Component in Photovoltaic's Progress Toward Grid Parity," IEEE International Reliability Physics Symposium, 10-14 April 2011, Monterey, California. NREL/CP-5200-50599.
Power Electronics
Deline, C.; Marion, B.; Granata, J.; Gonzalez, S. (2011). "A Performance and Economic Analysis of Distributed Power Electronics in Photovoltaic Systems," NREL Technical Report. NREL/TP-5200-50003.
