Combined Non-Destructive Techniques for On-Site Failure Analysis -Showcase of Glass Cracks with Burn Marks in a PV Power Station

Buerhop C, De Oliveira AKV, Mashkov O, Nascimento L, Braga M, Ruther R, Peters MI (2025)

Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

Pages Range: 526-529

Conference Proceedings Title: Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference

Event location: Montreal, QC, CAN

ISBN: 9798331534448

DOI: 10.1109/PVSC59419.2025.11132595

Abstract

Reliability of PV modules is important for power production and to maximize energy yield. Module faults represent a potential risk of yield loss when their causes and implications are unclear. We present a strategy to efficiently perform failure analysis in solar power parks with simple methods using the example of double glass modules with glass cracks and burn marks in a single-axis tracking multi-MWp PV power plant. In a sample of 984 modules, 8.5% exhibited glass cracks, with 86% of these located directly next to the tracker elements, as detected by visual inspection. Some 34% of the 180 modules next to the tracker had glass cracks and 47% of these also had burn marks. IR and UVF imaging showed anomalies for all modules with glass cracks and for another 15% that had no glass cracks. The targeted use of electroluminescence and for the first time in superposition with UVF imaging highlights deactivated cell areas with local hotspots. Our hypothesis is that due to short cables mechanical stresses are transferred to the junction box and weaken the solder joints to such an extent that temperature increases with glass cracks and burn marks are the result. Through the consistent use of simple methods of an extensive sample and the targeted use of more complex methods, the vulnerable positions of the modules next to the tracker could be identified; we estimate that approx. 33-46% of the modules next to the tracker in this power plant could have been affected.

Involved external institutions

Forschungszentrum Jülich / Research Centre Jülich (FZJ) DE Germany (DE) Federal University of Santa Catarina / Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) BR Brazil (BR)

How to cite

APA:

Buerhop, C., De Oliveira, A.K.V., Mashkov, O., Nascimento, L., Braga, M., Ruther, R., & Peters, M.I. (2025). Combined Non-Destructive Techniques for On-Site Failure Analysis -Showcase of Glass Cracks with Burn Marks in a PV Power Station. In Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (pp. 526-529). Montreal, QC, CAN: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc..

MLA:

Buerhop, Claudia, et al. "Combined Non-Destructive Techniques for On-Site Failure Analysis -Showcase of Glass Cracks with Burn Marks in a PV Power Station." Proceedings of the 53rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2025, Montreal, QC, CAN Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025. 526-529.

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