The effect of OPV module size on stability and diurnal performance: outdoor tests and application of a computer model

David, T. W., Bristow, N., Stoichkov, V., Huang, H., Todeschini, G. and Kettle, J. (2021) The effect of OPV module size on stability and diurnal performance: outdoor tests and application of a computer model. Energies, 14(19), 6324. (doi: 10.3390/en14196324)

Abstract

The outdoor performance of large area Organic Photovoltaics (OPVs) is investigated in this work. Initially, the diurnal performance of the three modules is determined and found to be similar. Subsequently module degradation is monitored, and it is found that the larger area module displays a significantly greater stability as compared to the smallest area module; in fact the larger module displays a T50% (time to fall to 50% of its original value) of 191 days whilst the smallest module displays a T50% of 57 days. This is attributed to an increased level of water infiltration due to a larger perimeter-to-area ratio. These findings are then used to verify a computer simulation model which allows the model parameters, series and shunt resistances, to be calculated. It is determined that the series resistance is not an obvious obstruction at these module sizes. The findings of this work provide great promise for the application of OPV technology on a larger scale.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: T.W.D., N.B., H.H., G.T. and J.K. acknowledge the support by the Solar Photovoltaic Academic Research Consortium II (SPARC II) project, gratefully funded by WEFO. We would like to thank the PEARL PV COST Action, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology, CA1625).
• Keywords: Organic photovoltaic, OPV, stability, outdoor testing, modelling of OPVs.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kettle, Professor Jeff
• Authors: David, T. W., Bristow, N., Stoichkov, V., Huang, H., Todeschini, G., and Kettle, J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Energies
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1996-1073
• ISSN (Online): 1996-1073
• Published Online: 03 October 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Energies 14(19): 6324
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License