An Analytical Exploration of the Degradation Rates in Photovoltaic Systems

The United Nations has embraced sustainable development goals with the aim of ensuring economic well-being, reducing poverty, and addressing climate change. Energy constitutes a fundamental component of these goals. Presently, the need for energy predominantly relies on fossil fuel resources such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal, leading to the release of greenhouse gases and environmental degradation. To mitigate the environmental consequences, it is imperative for existing energy systems to transition toward clean and renewable energy sources. The adoption of solar energy, a ubiquitous renewable energy option, is becoming increasingly popular due to its easy installation, widespread availability, and competitive pricing. As the penetration of photovoltaic systems in the power grid rises, precise forecasting rate of return necessitates precise estimation of reduced power output with time. It is crucial to have knowledge of degradation rates to anticipate power supply. This paper examines flat plate modules and systems for degradation rates of different solar photovoltaic technology documented in published works from field trials conducted over the past 20 years (1995–2015). Over 1000 degradation rates, measured from sole modules or whole systems, are compiled from literature, revealing an average annual value of 0.5%.