DuraMAT: Building a Consortium to Accelerate the Photovoltaic Module Reliability Learning Cycle

Owen-Bellini, Michael; Hartley, James Y. (ORCID:0000000313764846); Jain, Anubhav; Jordan, Dirk C.; Schelhas, Laura T.; Barnes, Teresa M. (ORCID:0000000231540558)

doi:10.1103/prxenergy.3.021001

DOE OSTI · 2473584

DuraMAT: Building a Consortium to Accelerate the Photovoltaic Module Reliability Learning Cycle

Owen-Bellini, Michael·Hartley, James Y. (ORCID:0000000313764846)·Jain, Anubhav·Jordan, Dirk C.·Schelhas, Laura T.·Barnes, Teresa M. (ORCID:0000000231540558)

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Abstract

Durable and reliable photovoltaic (PV) modules are critical to enabling an efficient transition to sustainable energy generation. The rate at which new module designs and materials are developed and deployed currently outpaces the rate at which we can identify failure mechanisms and understand degradation rates. Increasing the service life of PV modules, and our ability to predict performance over time, requires more durable materials and designs, better durability testing, more extensive material characterization, robust modeling, and methods to cross-examine historical performance data to extract meaningful results. This is a multidisciplinary challenge that requires expertise from a broad range of fields and, therefore, benefits significantly from a collaborative approach. In this Perspective, we outline the approach taken by the Durable Module Materials Consortium (DuraMAT), present a few case studies where our approach was successful, and provide an outlook on where this approach might be applied as the PV technology landscape continues to rapidly evolve. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

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14 SOLAR ENERGY DuraMAT device fabrication engineering material failure photovoltaics reliability solar energy solar energy harvesting devices

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Owen-Bellini, Michael, Hartley, James Y. (ORCID:0000000313764846), Jain, Anubhav, Jordan, Dirk C., Schelhas, Laura T., Barnes, Teresa M. (ORCID:0000000231540558). 2024-06-24. DuraMAT: Building a Consortium to Accelerate the Photovoltaic Module Reliability Learning Cycle. https://doi.org/10.1103/prxenergy.3.021001

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