Performance evaluation of micromorph based thin film photovoltaic modules in real operating conditions of composite climate

The micromorph thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) technology uses tandem solar cell structure comprising of hydrogenated amorphous and microcrystalline p-i-n junction silicon cells which needs a long period of outdoor exposure for stabilization. In this paper, the performance analysis of grid interactive (GI) micromorph TFPV system has been assessed for a period of 166 days in real operating conditions on the basis of performance ratio (PR), thermal normalized PR (PRSTC), alternate reporting conditions (ARC), energetic and exergetic studies. A novel methodology for performance evaluation has been developed by utilizing per minute operating data collected from a micromorph based GI-TFPV system of 7.92 kWP rated stabilized capacity. The system is found to be operating in the range of 5.1 kWP to 5.6 kWP as compared to the 5.94 kWP stabilized rated capacity after removing the strings with mechanical damaged modules. The average PR and PRSTC of the system are found to be 0.83 and 0.89 respectively, with an average degradation rate of 1.53%/month and 1.22%/month respectively. The average exergetic, energetic and alternate current output efficiencies of the 7.92 kWP GI-TFPV system are found to be 7.38%, 6.83% and 6.69% respectively. The performance of inverters and effect of module breakage has also been evaluated. •Performance analysis of 7.92 kWP micromorph PV system has been carried out.•Electrical parameters have been assessed at alternative reporting conditions.•Exergy analysis of the system has been carried out.•Average PR and PRSTC of the system are found to be 0.83 and 0.89 respectively.•Average energy and exergy efficiency are found to be 6.91% and 7.48% respectively.