Experimental Study Of Photovoltaic Panels’ Degradation And Technology Evolution

This paper studies the degradation of the performances of photovoltaic (PV) panels during the years of operation, which is crucial for owners of PV installations of different scales and in urban or rural areas. PV panels produced by five different technologies are investigated using experimental data from five grid-connected photovoltaic systems installed in Sofia, Bulgaria. The data cover ten years of operation under continental climate various meteorological conditions. The results of the study allow a more informed choice of suitable panel technology during the design and sizing process of PV systems. Finally, a brief comparison of the performance of different generations of PV panels is made.