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MATERIALS NEWS
Encapsulant prevents PID losses in solar modules
BASED on Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin’s testing of solar modules that use Germany-based Wacker’s Tectosil thermoplastic encapsulant (an electrically insulating sheet comprising organosilicone copolymer), the modules do not display leakage currents due to potential-induced degradation (PID) that happens in the event of higher voltages.
PID is caused by undesired leakage currents on the cell surface, causing negative charge carriers that would normally flow to the cell’s back contact to be discharged via the encapsulation and module frame, unused.
Penetrating moisture and high module voltages promote this type of discharge, which can cause considerable performance losses. However, the PID effect is reversible and can be restricted through technical countermeasures.
(PRA)
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