A Quicker, Cheaper Approach To Give Photo voltaic Panels A Clear Invoice Of Well being

Within the Darkness of Night time, NREL Is Prototyping a New System That Might Lower Time and Prices for Inspections of Photo voltaic Installations After Doubtlessly Damaging Climate

After extreme climate occasions—like hail or main windstorms—fielded photo voltaic panels needs to be inspected for injury, normally with both complicated electrical tools or by removing for indoor lab testing. Typically, these inspections reveal minimal injury however nonetheless require system downtime and excessive prices to verify their well being.

A brand new system, developed by Nationwide Renewable Vitality Laboratory (NREL) photovoltaic reliability researchers with enter from trade companions, simplifies and streamlines this course of by counting on photoluminescence—a elementary property of the semiconductors in photo voltaic cells. The PLatypus system shines mild on the photo voltaic cells, which then re-emit mild again to the system’s cameras. Broken cells will shine much less brightly, rapidly indicating the well being of the panels.

A whole system could be checked at a fraction of the time and value beforehand required—all with none disconnection of the system’s electronics. The PLatypus system is below improvement as a part of the Sturdy Module Supplies Consortium (DuraMAT), funded by the U.S. Division of Vitality Photo voltaic Vitality Applied sciences Workplace and led by NREL.

Article from NREL, by Harrison Dreves.

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