PROGRESS UNDER THE PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE AND SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND ENGINEERING PROJECT

摘要

The Photovoltaic (PV) Module and System Performance and Engineering Project is an integral element of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Photovoltaic Program conducted under the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Photovoltaic Program. The project ensures that state-of-the-art PV capabilities are available as resources for cooperative research and use by the U.S. PV community. This paper covers recent progress and describes the engineering project's equipment, facilities, and related technical expertise such as supporting measurement and analysis activities and developing PV standards and codes. Key activities include periodic NREL-sponsored meetings, e.g., The Photovoltaic Performance and Reliability Workshop (held annually in September), The Photovoltaic Standards and Codes Forum (held annually in June), and The Photovoltaic Radiometric Measurements Workshop (planned for July 1995).The NREL PV engineering project is responsible for conducting and verifying PV module, system, and solar radiometric research, engineering, testing, evaluation, and analysis. Technical results and solutions to issues are provided, including developing criteria for test and evaluation procedures, and verifying PV performance. Technical accomplishments are presented under the following primary areas (italics), and the project's cross-cutting, integrated, PV Standards and Codes activities are presented under its own area.PV Efficiency Measurements - Standard Reporting Conditions activities provide comprehensive evaluations of PV cell and module performance, including standardized and traceable efficiency measurements and reference-cell calibration.The PV Module and System Performance Testing and Reliability activities foster coordinated approaches among the interdisciplinary staff of PV scientists, engineers, and technicians. Through NREL's Outdoor Test Facility and related laboratories, primary focus is on emerging PV module/system technology validation, module/array performance testing, module qualification testing and test-method development, PV module materials and component durability, and PV component diagnostics and failure analysis.PV Radiometric Measurements and Evaluation activities directly support the characterizing, measuring, testing, designing,and understanding of the performance of PV cells, submodules, modules, and systems by providing scientific and engineering understanding of incident solar irradiance, and through the development of instruments and/or measurement methods.