Performance And Reliability Of Solar Progress Photovoltaic System

A 15 kWp grid-connected photovoltaic system was installed in August 1988 at one of Florida Power Corporation's substations near Orlando, FL. The system is named "Solar Progress", since state-of-the-art technology thin-film amorphous silicon modules are used. The system's performance has been monitored for 20 months of operation and periodic diagnostic tests to evaluate subsystem reliability have been conducted. During the 20-month period, the power output of the photovoltaic array has degraded by about 25 percent of its original value and the array peak power efficiency is 4. 0 percent as of April 1990. Relatively high leakage currents of the photovoltaic array, particularly under wet conditions, have been detected. A significant corrosion build-up on some of the photovoltaic modules has also been observed.