Award Number: DE-EE0008155CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6Solar Energy Technologies OfficeLocation(s): FLOffice(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
August 16, 2017
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Characterization of Contact Degradation in c-Si PV Modules
Award Number: DE-EE0008155
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Solar Energy Technologies Office
Location(s): FL
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to University of Central Florida (UCF) to develop an automated metrology process that can non-destructively extract the series resistance and recombination of individual cells encapsulated within a PV module with minimal uncertainty for both parameters using calibrated electroluminescence imaging.
The proposed project would involve laboratory-scale research and development, data analysis, and computer modeling. UCF (Orlando, FL) would prepare samples, perform transmission line modeling, carry out photoluminescence imaging of cells, acquire degraded modules, perform simulations, and perform image processing of the datasets. BrightSpot Automation (Westford, MA) would develop an industrial electroluminescence -based tool for quantifying contact resistivity in a module. Arizona State University (Temple, AZ) would lead efforts in acquiring degraded modules, performing accelerated aging tests of modules, and installing modules in the field. Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, NY) would focus on standardized contact resistivity measurements and combined experimental efforts with modeling simulation.