In-situ testing of organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules to examine modes of degradation in an arid-hot climate

Abstract

The AzRISE-TEP Solar Test Yard is a 600-module capacity test bed that provides the environment for in-situ testing of PV module performance, with real-time data collection of module power production and local weather conditions. This work involves the examination of flexible, semi-transparent, organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules in an outdoor testing environment to study degradation in the hot, arid, Tucson, AZ climate. The work reports on changes in the I-V performance and efficiency of a string of two OPV modules in order to estimate degradation experienced by the OPV modules. The study finds that the module string under test dropped to below 80% of its initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) after 54.58 days, and predicts that the PCE will drop below 50% of its initial state after 114.53 days from deployment.