PV module - Revision history

Alex: Text replacement - "[[Special:MyLanguage/Series and parallel" to "[[Special:MyLanguage/Series and parallel connections"

2021-03-02T16:47:35Z

Text replacement - "[[Special:MyLanguage/Series and parallel" to "[[Special:MyLanguage/Series and parallel connections"

Alex at 18:22, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T18:22:30Z

Alex at 18:17, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T18:17:39Z

Alex: Marked this version for translation

2021-02-10T16:50:35Z

Marked this version for translation

Alex at 16:50, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T16:50:14Z

Alex at 16:49, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T16:49:18Z

Alex at 16:48, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T16:48:55Z

Alex: /* Crystalline silicon modules */

2021-02-10T16:47:59Z

Crystalline silicon modules

Alex at 16:47, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T16:47:34Z

Alex at 16:46, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T16:46:11Z

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-PV modules are composed of individual cells wired together in [[Special:MyLanguage/Series and parallel|series]] with each one producing around.5 V when exposed to sufficient light. PV modules come in several common configurations:
+PV modules are composed of individual cells wired together in [[Special:MyLanguage/Series and parallel connections|series]] with each one producing around.5 V when exposed to sufficient light. PV modules come in several common configurations:
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 [[File:Modulespeclabel -200921-2.png|thumb|right|250px|Typical specifications label found on the back of a PV module.]]
-PV modules are rated in terms of watts (W) under industry determined laboratory test conditions called standard test conditions (STC). The three conditions are the strength of sunlight called ''irradiance'', ''cell temperature'' and ''airmass''. Airmass is fixed for a given location, so it plays a less important role than the other two.  PV modules will only produce their rated power at their Maximum Power Point, which is Vmp multiplied by Imp, under standard test conditions laboratory. These conditions are not frequently reached in most locations as cell temperatures rise quickly when exposed to sunlight and irradiance of 1000 W/m² only occurs when the sky is clear near midday. Therefore, the curve shown the preceding graphics will shift depending upon the conditions.
+PV modules are rated in terms of watts (W) under industry determined laboratory test conditions called standard test conditions (STC). The three conditions are: the strength of sunlight called irradiance, the temperature of the PV module cells, and the airmass. Airmass is fixed for a given location, so it plays a less important role than the other two.  PV modules will only produce their rated power at their Maximum Power Point, which is Vmp multiplied by Imp, under standard test conditions laboratory. These conditions are not frequently reached in most locations as cell temperatures rise quickly when exposed to sunlight and irradiance of 1000 W/m² only occurs when the sky is clear near midday. Therefore, the curve shown the preceding graphics will shift depending upon the conditions.
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 *PERC (passivated emitter and rear contact or rear cell) modules have an extra layer that increases efficiency to around 21%. The manufacturing process is more complicated so they are more expensive than basic modules.
-*Bi-facial modules have a different design and lack the white polymer (plastic) backsheet that most PV modules have to allow them to absorb more sunlight from their backside. For installations like ground mounts and pole mounts, where the back of the PV module is exposed to light that may be reflection from the ground or other surfaces, this can increase production from between 5% and 30%. The manufacturing process is more complicated so they are more expensive than basic modules.
+*Bi-facial modules have a different design and lack the white polymer (plastic) backsheet that most PV modules have to allow them to absorb more sunlight from their backside. For installations like [[Special:MyLanguage/Mounting system types|ground mount systems and pole mount systems]], where the back of the PV module is exposed to light that may be reflection from the ground or other surfaces, this can increase production from between 5% and 30%. The manufacturing process is more complicated so they are more expensive than basic modules.
 ===Thin film modules=== <!--T:9-->

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 There are many different chemistries that are used in PV cells, but there are two main categories of modules that are found on the market. Each type of PV module continues to have different characteristics that can be attractive depending upon the circumstances such as lower price or higher efficiency. PV modules are rated in terms of efficiency at total conversion of light into usable electricity - a measurement that has slowly been increasing for all module types over the years. In simplest terms, a module that is 20% efficient is able to convert 20% of all the light that hits it into usable electricity. Increasing efficiency by 3% - from 17% to 20% - may not sound like much, but it will result in a 17.6% increase in production from the PV module (3% ÷ 17% × 100 = 17.6%).
-<!--T:8-->
+===Crystalline silicon modules=== <!--T:8-->
 The most common type of module on the market. These modules can come in poly or monocrystalline construction. The names are derived from the way that they are manufactured with monocrystalline cells being cut from a single crystal and polycrystalline cells being comprised of silicon from various crystals. Both types are composed of a few simple materials (average by weight): 76% glass (panel surface), 10% polymer (encapsulant and backsheet foil), 8% aluminum (mostly the frame), 5% silicon (PV  cells), 1%  copper  (interconnectors)  and  less  than  0.1%  silver  (contact  lines)  and  other  metals (mostly tin and lead).<ref name="irena"> IRENA End-of-Life Management Solar Photovoltaic Panels. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2016/IRENA_IEAPVPS_End-of-Life_Solar_PV_Panels_2016.pdf </ref>
 *Monocrystalline modules are more expensive, but achieve higher average efficiencies around 17-20%.
 *Polycrystalline modules are less expensive and are less efficient with average efficiencies around 16-17%.
-====Variants of crystalline silicon modules====
+====Variants of crystalline silicon modules==== <!--T:33-->
 *PERC (passivated emitter and rear contact or rear cell) modules have an extra layer that increases efficiency to around 21%. The manufacturing process is more complicated so they are more expensive than basic modules.
 *Bi-facial modules have a different design and lack the white polymer (plastic) backsheet that most PV modules have to allow them to absorb more sunlight from their backside. For installations like ground mounts and pole mounts, where the back of the PV module is exposed to light that may be reflection from the ground or other surfaces, this can increase production from between 5% and 30%. The manufacturing process is more complicated so they are more expensive than basic modules.
-<!--T:9-->
+===Thin film modules=== <!--T:9-->
 Thin film modules are built out by laying photovoltaic material in one or more layers on a supporting material such as glass, plastic, or metal. Thin film modules come in various types with Cadmium-Telluride (CdTe) Being the most common. CdTe modules contain far less aluminum and more glass than Crystalline silicon modules (average by weight): 97% glass (panel surface), ~3% polymer (junction boxes and sealant) and negligible amounts of semiconductors and metals. <ref name="irena" /> Thin film modules are far less efficient than crystalline silicon modules at around 9% efficiency, but significantly cheaper.</ol>

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 *PERC (passivated emitter and rear contact or rear cell) modules have an extra layer that increases efficiency to around 21%. The manufacturing process is more complicated so they are more expensive than basic modules.
-:*Bi-facial modules have a different design and lack the white polymer (plastic) backsheet that most PV modules have to allow them to absorb more sunlight from their backside. For installations like ground mounts and pole mounts, where the back of the PV module is exposed to light that may be reflection from the ground or other surfaces, this can increase production from between 5% and 30%. The manufacturing process is more complicated so they are more expensive than basic modules.
+*Bi-facial modules have a different design and lack the white polymer (plastic) backsheet that most PV modules have to allow them to absorb more sunlight from their backside. For installations like ground mounts and pole mounts, where the back of the PV module is exposed to light that may be reflection from the ground or other surfaces, this can increase production from between 5% and 30%. The manufacturing process is more complicated so they are more expensive than basic modules.
 <!--T:9-->

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 <!--T:8-->
-<ol>
+===Crystalline silicon modules===
-<li>'''Crystalline silicon modules:''' The most common type of module on the market. These modules can come in poly or monocrystalline construction. The names are derived from the way that they are manufactured with monocrystalline cells being cut from a single crystal and polycrystalline cells being comprised of silicon from various crystals. Both types are composed of a few simple materials (average by weight): 76% glass (panel surface), 10% polymer (encapsulant and backsheet foil), 8% aluminum (mostly the frame), 5% silicon (PV  cells), 1%  copper  (interconnectors)  and  less  than  0.1%  silver  (contact  lines)  and  other  metals (mostly tin and lead).<ref name="irena"> IRENA End-of-Life Management Solar Photovoltaic Panels. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2016/IRENA_IEAPVPS_End-of-Life_Solar_PV_Panels_2016.pdf </ref> PV modules are rated in terms of efficiency at total conversion of light into usable electricity - a measurement that has slowly been increasing for all module types over the years. In simplest terms, a module that is 20% efficient is able to convert 20% of all the light that hits it into usable electricity. Increasing efficiency by 3% - from 17% to 20% - may not sound like much, but it will result in a 17.6% increase in production from the PV module (3% ÷ 17% × 100 = 17.6%).
 :*Monocrystalline modules are more expensive, but achieve higher average efficiencies around 17-20%.
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 <!--T:9-->
-<li>'''Thin film modules:''' Thin film modules are built out by laying photovoltaic material in one or more layers on a supporting material such as glass, plastic, or metal. Thin film modules come in various types with Cadmium-Telluride (CdTe) Being the most common. CdTe modules contain far less aluminum and more glass than Crystalline silicon modules (average by weight): 97% glass (panel surface), ~3% polymer (junction boxes and sealant) and negligible amounts of semiconductors and metals. <ref name="irena" /> Thin film modules are far less efficient than crystalline silicon modules at around 9% efficiency, but significantly cheaper.</ol>
+<li>===Thin film modules===
 ==Standard test conditions== <!--T:10-->