Stability and Performance of Photovoltaics (STAPP)
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Electronic, Electrical & Systems Enginee
Abstract
Definition of the performance of photovoltaics is normally reduced to the efficiency alone. However, this number contains no indication of key issues such as system component reliability, module stability or appropriate balance of system design -- all of which play a crucial role in determining the performance in terms of usability. The key indicator is the levelised cost of energy (LCOE). The main influences on this, and thus the viability of photovoltaic technologies, are not only in material science but also in the way systems behave in the long term, and the uncertainty in predicting their behaviour. The link between laboratory-based materials science and the LCOE is poorly understood, revealing gaps in scientific knowledge which will be filled by this project. The key outcome is improved understanding of the potential for deploying photovoltaics in different climatic zones. The biggest unknowns in the LCOE are: understanding of the stability and long-term performance of photovoltaic modules; how a holistic system performance can be described; and the uncertainty in life-time energy yield prediction. This is crucial, especially for newer thin film technologies, which have been shown to be more variable in degradation and often suffer inappropriate balance of system components. Close collaboration with manufacturers of thin film as well as crystalline silicon devices will ensure that these aspects are appropriately covered. Novel measurement and modelling approaches for the prediction of life-time energy yield of the modules will be developed and validated against realistic data in collected in different climatic zones. This will result in the development of accelerated test procedures. Uncertainty calculations will enable identification and minimisation of this, and thus reduce the LCOE. A holistic systems approach is taken, specifically looking at the effects of different inverters in different climates and the effects of the existing network infrastructure on energy performance. At the heart of this project is the development of models and their validation, all focused on predicting the lifetime energy yield. A measurement campaign will be undertaken using novel techniques to better monitor the long-term behaviour of modules. Detailed, spatially-resolved techniques will be developed and linked to finite element-based models. This then allows the development of improved accelerated tests to be linked to real environments. These models will be validated against modules measured in a variety of realistic deployments. Using a geographical information system, maps of environmental strains and expected degradation rates per year for the different technologies will be developed.The feedback from the grid is an often underestimated effect on photovoltaic system performance. Typically, the grid and power conditioning cause 5-10% losses in otherwise appropriately installed systems; in unfortunate cases this can rise to 60%. The underlying reasons need to be better understood, so specific models for the interaction with the grid and different control strategies will be developed with the overall aim to minimise these loss effects.This project will be crucial for both the UK and India to translate their ambitious installation plans into reality as it will deliver the tools required to plan the viability of installations via geographical information systems, underpinned by a robust science base. This will aid decisions on the use of appropriate photovoltaic technology for a given site, to include both the modules themselves and other system components, to maximise cost-effectiveness and reliability.
Planned Impact
The outcome of this project will be a vastly improved understanding of how new and existing photovoltaic materials operate at the module and system level under different climatic conditions, represented by the UK and India (but with relevance to many other locations). Since the project focuses on energy yield and the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE), the results will be relevant to all sectors that are involved in the implementation of photovoltaics and the wider issues of energy in general. Nevertheless, we can define five sectors with specific interest in the results of the project, over and above the academic community, as shown below: 1. Companies involved in the manufacture of photovoltaic modules, the design of photovoltaic systems and the installation of photovoltaic systems 2. Organisations involved in the development of energy systems -- especially electricity distribution companies 3. Standards organisations dealing with the PV and electrical sector 4. Government and related organisations involved in the development of energy strategy, including policy decisions 5. Companies offering measurement equipment or service measurements. The project will impact all of the above communities, both in the short- and medium term. Whilst the project does not develop new materials directly, it will enable a deeper understanding of the operation of the newer PV technologies to a lower uncertainty of the energy yield and, therefore, of the LCOE of the systems. This will allow a significant reduction of LCOE through improved financing options; this will have a very significant impact on the PV industry. Reduced LCOE will enable the PV industry to achieve grid parity faster, i.e., reach the point where no further financial subsidies are required. Thus the project will positively impact on the speed of growth of the industry as a whole, and the project partners in particular. Two types of products are developed within the project and appropriate commercialisation partners are within the project. Firstly, there are novel measurement machines such as the measurement of localised QE in thin film multi-junction devices. This is equipment of great use to the PV industry, and by Perkin Elmer working closely with Loughborough University on this aspect, a commercial exploitation route is provided. Secondly, service type measurements will be developed, such as accelerated qualification tests. Among our partners, SEC is offering such tests commercially, in addition to Ipsol Test Ltd. Thus the commercialisation of these products will be ensured, creating employment in both the UK and India. Beyond these obvious commercialisation routes, the project is positioned around development of scientific models and pre-standardisation research. This tends to be difficult to commercialise directly. However, commercialisation of new technologies and progress of the industry would be adversely affected by the lack of such research. The development of accelerated tests and scientific models will allow a faster route to market for new and innovative technologies. The evaluation of novel products will reduce the risk of market introduction and early failure, which in turn increases the likelihood to succeed in today's difficult market. The project will also benefit the academic communities involved, as they can learn from each other. The project will educate a large number of performance specialists (the PDRAs, PGRAs and Research Students), which will enable both the UK and India to support the anticipated growth in installations. The lack of this would hinder progress, as there currently is a dearth of well-trained people in this field. The project will also improve the international standing of all partners involved.
Organisations
- Loughborough University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (Collaboration)
- Department of Energy and Climate Change (Collaboration)
- PerkinElmer Limited (Project Partner)
- Shurjo Energy (Project Partner)
- I T Power (Project Partner)
- BHEL-ASSCP (Project Partner)
- Reliance (Project Partner)
- Indian Inst of Technology Kharagpur (Project Partner)
- HVV Solar (Project Partner)
- European Joint Research Centre (Project Partner)
- New and Renewable Energy Centre NaREC (Project Partner)
- Astonfield (Project Partner)
- Lancosolar (Project Partner)
- Tata (Project Partner)
- IPSOL Test Limited (Project Partner)
- Solar Semiconductor Pvt. Ltd (Project Partner)
- Solar Century Global Community Trust (Project Partner)
- Leapfrog (Project Partner)
- Indian Inst of Technology (IIT) Bombay (Project Partner)
- Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (Project Partner)
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Project Partner)
- West Bengal Green Energy Development Cor (Project Partner)
Publications

A Sinha (Author)
(2012)
Performance of Champions Module for PV Lighting Systems in India

Agalgaonkar Y
(2015)
Stochastic Distribution System Operation Considering Voltage Regulation Risks in the Presence of PV Generation
in IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy

Agalgaonkar Y
(2012)
Impact of Photo Voltaic generation control on multi machine Small signal stability
in IFAC Proceedings Volumes


Agalgaonkar Y.
(2012)
Modal Analysis of grid connected Photovoltaic - Poster

Agalgaonkar Yashodhan Prakash
(2014)
Control and operation of power distribution system for optimal accommodation of PV generation

Astawa K
(2011)
Effect of loading on long term performance of single junction amorphous silicon modules
in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells


Badiee A
(2016)
The thermo-mechanical degradation of ethylene vinyl acetate used as a solar panel adhesive and encapsulant
in International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives
Description | The grant was to identify main reasons for failure in PV systems in India and the UK to support the growing industries in both countries. There have been many discoveries such as: - models for ageing of PV modules, specifically on the impacts of damp-heat (water uptake of the PV module) on ageing and the stability of the structure - new tools to characterise PV devices in a non-destructive way - quality enhancement throughout the metrology of PV modules - system performance models and associated inputs |
Exploitation Route | The work goes towards quality enhancement, manufacturing control and system engineering and will reduce the risk in overall installation. |
Sectors | Chemicals Construction Electronics Energy Environment Financial Services and Management Consultancy Government Democracy and Justice |
URL | http://www.stapp.org.uk |
Description | The findings have been used to investigate risks associated with PV system operation throughout he entire value chain. Understanding the risks allows a significant reduction in cost of energy as failures and durability are the dominant factors in energy generation costs by PV system performance. The project enabled better modelling and more detailed assessment of generation cost by providing the tools in terms of measurement and modelling to identify key components in this risk assessment. It also helps setting subsidy levels for PV in both countries. |
First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
Sector | Chemicals,Construction,Electronics,Energy,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Membership of International Task Force |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | We now have more engineers with advanced knowledge to run their energy supply systems |
Description | Power Network Research |
Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Grid UK |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2010 |
End | 09/2013 |
Description | UK India Smart Grid and Storage |
Amount | £980,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K036173/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2014 |
End | 01/2017 |
Description | Collaboration with IIT Kharagpur in Renewable Energy Integration |
Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur |
Country | India |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have developed model of solar PV system that has been used by the researchers in the consortium. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator developed method of power converter switching which tackled the challenges of interfacing PV inverter. |
Impact | Joint research publications resulted from this collaboration. Staff exchanges have taken place bilaterally. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | DECC Collaboration (now become BEIS) |
Organisation | Department of Energy and Climate Change |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Impact of UK PV installations on national infrastructure, provision of datasets |
Collaborator Contribution | advice and insight on current PV market and technological conditions |
Impact | understanding socio-economic impact of PV installations |
Start Year | 2013 |
Title | H-bridge based level doubling circuit for cascaded Hbridge multilevel inverters |
Description | H-bridge based level doubling circuit for cascaded Hbridge multilevel inverters |
IP Reference | Indian Patent Application No.: 0125/KOL/2012 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2012 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | not known yet |
Title | System and Method for Detection and Characterization of Delamination in PV Modules |
Description | System and Method for Detection and Characterization of Delamination in PV Modules |
IP Reference | Indian Patent Application No.: 1424/MUM/2014 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2014 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | not known yet. |
Title | SURYA |
Description | Software "SURYA" for simulation of large PV arrays in a realistic time frame is developed by M. B. Patil, Gaurav Trivedi and Abhay Chopde (Jointly with IIT Guwahati and VIT Pune) |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Impact | not known yet. |
Description | Clean Energy Ministerial, Delhi, India |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The CEM is a global forum to share best practices and promote policies and programs that encourage and facilitate the transition to a global clean energy economy. It took place from16th April to 3pm on 18th April 2013.The Deputy Chairman of India's Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, co-chaired the event with U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu. Other ministers confirmed to be in attendance include Minister Greg Barker from the UK's Department of Energy and Climate Change and Ministers from China, Denmark and South Africa. STAPP project was presented by junior rearchers from the project. A STAPP banner and leaflet were presented at this event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Energy Generation of PV Systems Workshop EGPVS 2013 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a workshop organised by STAPP team at CREST Loughborough Uni. There was a good participation from acedemia and industry. Their feedback was very good hence this has repeated second time with the aim of becoming a recurring event every year. good feedback received from participants. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.egpvs.org.uk |
Description | Spatially-resolved Characterisation of Photovoltaic Devices |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation, won the 3rd poster pize at the Midlands Energy Graduate School (MEGS). recognition of good performance and quality of the work |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |