Technical evaluation of two 6-kW mono-Si photovoltaic systems at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory

This paper presents an analysis of performance data on the two 6-kW/sub AC/ grid-connected photovoltaic systems at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The performance parameters analyzed include DC and AC power, aperture efficiency, energy, capacity factor and performance index which are compared to plane-of-array irradiance, ambient temperature, and back-of-module temperature as a function of time, either daily or monthly. Power ratings of the systems were also obtained for data corresponding to different test conditions. This study has shown, in addition to expected seasonal trends, that system monitoring is a valuable tool in assessing performance and detecting faulty equipment. In addition, methods applied for this study may be used to evaluate and compare systems employing different cell technologies.