Determining the Power Rate of Change of 353 Plant Inverters Time-Series Data Across Multiple Climate Zones, Using a Month-By-Month Data Science Analysis

The month-by-month method has been developed in the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension (SDLE) Research Center with the purpose of improving the power output monitoring of real world photovoltaic (PV) power plants. This method computes the rate of change (
ROC
) of the system and external variables are ranked based on their correlation with the changing rate of the system to provide insight into the possible degradation mechanisms of PV modules. A data set of non-SunPower, front contacted multi-crystalline modules were analyzed with the month-by-month method. Results show an average linear
ROC
of -0.95%/year with an observed correlation between the
ROC
and the brand of the module, as well as the total age of the system, and the climate zone the system is located in.