PERFORMANCE OF THE ROOF INTEGRATED AMORPHOUS SILICON PLANT IMT NEUCHATEL

摘要

The grid-connected PV plant of 6.4 kWp at the Institute of Microtechnology Neuchatel was the first of its kind in Switzerland where large-area amorphous silicon panels are aesthetically integrated into the roof of a sixty years old building. The plant was implemented and commissioned in autumn 1996. A data logger monitors energy production and the system performance with regard to irradiation, temperature and light induced degradation. During the five years of operation the plant showed an excellent reliability and performance. During the summer period the panels operate at relatively high temperatures resulting from the roof integration without backside ventilation. Amorphous silicon modules have, thus, proven to be particularly suitable for building integration: At higher operation temperatures they show production yields that are 15 to 20 % superior to those of crystalline silicon modules of identical nominal power rating.