On site renovation of degraded PV panels – Cost and environmental effective technology
V. Poulek, I.I. Tyukhov, Václav Beránek
Abstract
The encapsulation of photovoltaic (PV) panels determines the trouble-free lifetime of the panels. The quality of PV panel encapsulating components has significantly decreased over the last 25 years. Consequently, large quantities of PV panels worldwide are experiencing degradation or damage much earlier than expected. To address this issue, an on-site renovation technology for PV panels has been developed, which involves pre-deposition diagnosis and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film deposition. This technology substantially prolongs the real field lifetime of PV panels. In terms of carbon footprint, PV panel renovation is over a hundred times more effective compared to PV panel replacement. It is also a profitable solution.