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Reliability implications of partial shading on CIGS photovoltaic devices: A literature review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 December 2019

Klaas Bakker Open the ORCID record for Klaas Bakker [Opens in a new window] ,
Arthur Weeber  and
Mirjam Theelen
Klaas Bakker*
Affiliation:
Delft University of Technology, PVMD, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands; and TNO, Energy Transitions—Solliance, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Arthur Weeber
Affiliation:
Delft University of Technology, PVMD, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands; and TNO, Energy Transitions—Solar Energy, 1755 LE Petten, The Netherlands
Mirjam Theelen
Affiliation:
TNO, Energy Transitions—Solliance, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: klaas.bakker@solliance.eu
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Abstract

Partial shading of Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 (CIGS) photovoltaic (PV) modules is getting more attention, as is witnessed by the increase in publications on this topic in recent years. This review will give an overview of shading tests executed on CIGS modules and focuses on the more fundamental aspects that are often studied on cells. Generally, CIGS modules display very attractive performance under predictable row-to-row shading. However, potential damage could occur under nonoptimal shading orientations: module output after shading tests could reduce due to the formation of local shunts, often called wormlike defects. The influence of many factors on the formation of these defects, including the internal currents and voltages and the shape and intensity of the shade, will be discussed. This review allows an increased insight in the degradation mechanisms caused by partial shading, which would ultimately lead to the introduction of more shade-tolerant CIGS PV products in the future.

Keywords

photovoltaicthin filmenergy generation
Type
Invited Paper
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 34 , Issue 24 , 30 December 2019 , pp. 3977 - 3987
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2019 

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