IEA PVPS Task 13: Reliability and Performance of Photovoltaic Systems (Work Plan 2024 - 2025)
Short Description
Photovoltaics is a key technology of the energy transition. Its rapid deployment and the fast introduction of new cell technologies, materials, module designs and applications are, however, increasing the requirements for quality, reliability and long-term stability. IEA PVPS Task 13 therefore combined international operating data and research results, developed comparable assessment approaches and provided recommendations for improving the performance, service life and economic viability of PV systems.
The Austrian partners PCCL, AIT and OFI contributed their complementary expertise in materials analysis, reliability testing, system assessment and operating data analysis to all technical subtasks. The work covered degradation and failure mechanisms of new cell and module technologies, adapted testing strategies, and the repair, requalification and reuse of PV modules. Further priorities included emerging applications such as agrivoltaics, floating PV and bifacial systems, the performance of partially shaded installations using module-level power electronics, and digitalisation and digital twins. In addition, climatic influences and extreme weather events were investigated, and techno-economic key performance indicators for the comparative assessment of PV systems were further developed.
Key results include internationally coordinated methods for assessing the condition and remaining service life of used modules, improved testing and evaluation strategies, approaches for automated fault detection, and recommendations for climate- and application-specific system optimisation. Six Task 13 reports with substantial Austrian participation are available for free download from the IEA PVPS Task 13 website. They address degradation and failure mechanisms, Photovoltaic Failure Fact Sheets, second-life modules, digitalisation and digital twins, partially shaded PV generators operated with optimised power electronics, and the optimisation of PV systems for different climates.
During the reporting period, 12 scientific publications and conference contributions as well as 16 presentations were produced. Task 13 also organised 15 webinars, workshops and conference sessions. The results help manufacturers, system planners, operators, testing bodies, researchers and policymakers to identify risks at an early stage, optimise operation and maintenance, and implement durable, efficient and circular PV systems. At the same time, Austria's participation strengthened international knowledge transfer, domestic research capabilities and the competitiveness of the Austrian PV sector.
Project Images
Terms of use: The pictures listed underneath the header “Project Pictures” originate from the projects in the frame of the programmes City of Tomorrow, Building of Tomorrow and the IEA Research Cooperation. They may be used credited for non-commercial purposes under the Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC).
Participants
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany (Task lead), India, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Contact Address
Project lead
Gernot Oreski, Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL)
Sauraugasse 1, 8700 Leoben
E-Mail: Gernot.Oreski@pccl.at
Tel.: +43 664 88679331
Project partners
Bernhard Kubicek
Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT)
Giefinggasse 2, 1210 Wien
E-Mail: bernhard.kubicek@ait.ac.at
Tel.: +43 664 6207748
Gabriele C. Eder
Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und Technik (OFI)
Franz-Grill-Straße 5, Objekt 213, 1030 Wien
E-Mail: Gabriele.Eder@ofi.at
Tel.: +43 1 7981601-250