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Objectives of the work are to understand the challenges related to the technical performance and reliability of crystalline silicon solar cells in hot desert climates, where heat and high UV experienced in the region pose a challenge for the optimal performance. A comprehensive analysis on performance degradation and failure modes of c-Si modules in Algeria desert climate was carried out. Several modules were tested using an IV tracer and visual inspection. The modules have been in the field for considerable time (6 to 11 years). Results revealed some defects, such as; physical material defects, decreasing in the cell shunt resistance and increase in the cell series resistance that have mainly contributed in drop of output power. The hot desert climates affect the performance and lifetime of silicon solar cells negatively. This study is important for accurate prediction of performance, degradation, fatigue failure and reliability of PV panels, especially for PV installation in particular geographic regions as hot climatic zones.

Overall objective is a review on main degradation mechanisms and failure modes of silicon solar cells in hot desert climates. Previous study findings were carried out at research unit of renewable energy in Saharan middle, Algeria, are discussed to follow the present study. Most of these studies are focused mainly on I-V curves, field measurements or categorizing photovoltaic failure modes concerning polymeric materials. As a result, a great overview of climate and encapsulant polymer induced PV degradation mechanisms is given. The paper reported the change in electrical performance of silicon solar cells such as output power drop, Pm, increase in cell’s series resistance, Rs and decrease in cell’s shunt resistance, Rsh. Main degradation mechanisms in photovoltaic modules in hot desert climates are the physical change of the encapsulant material, highlighting by discoloration and the increase in cell’s series resistance Rs. Optimal performance and efficiecy of these silicon solar cells are influenced negatively by the harsh environmental conditions of Algerian desert. In present study, a lot of effort was put into finding the publications and appropriate data that can be beneficial in further studies on challenges associated with operating photovoltaic panels in hot desert climates.

Peak power tracking system Proteus model is proposed to design a maximum power point tracking techniques for photovoltaic systems. The simulator is good substitute to implement and verify the performance of MPPT algorithms in the laboratory. The proposed simulator has the same comportment as physical prototype. Simulated results of tracking voltage, tracking current and tracking power have been analyzed. The theoretical operation of the proposed model confirms the good performance even under solar irradiation variation.

In the paper, the main contribution is to understand the challenges related with operating silicon solar cells in Algerian Sahara, in order to improve the economical output of photovoltaic power systems. The evaluation consists the extraction of electrical parameters and visual observations. Tested PV modules have been subjected to extreme weather conditions for many years in field. Desert climate pose several challenges for the photovoltaic applications. The output power of solar cells drop up to 30 % compared to manufacturing status and physical material defects have mainly contribution in failure of polycrystalline solar cells in desert climate.

Desert climate affects the durability of photovoltaic panels that leading to a drop in their lifetime. the following work reviews the failure modes and performance degradation of standard panels in Sahara Desert climate. The study carried out on several silicon cells after years fielded in Algeria Sahara. Visual inspection shows the influence of high temperature combined by high ultra violet. The review on failure mode and performance degradation in the paper could be used to assessing the accelerated lifetime of silicon solar cells in desert climate, in order to improve the standard photovoltaic panels performance in desert climate.

Electricity generated using photovoltaic system can only be commercial if the photovoltaic modules operate reliably for 20–25 years under field conditions. Understanding the performance degradation of photovoltaic modules is critical for optimizing its financial viability. Performance degradation of photovoltaic modules is due to multiple factors such as installation site and module technologies. In order to gain insight on performance degradation of crystalline silicon PV technology in harsh environment, a degradation effects study of c-Si photovoltaic modules in desert environment was carried. The main contribution of this paper is focused on the evaluation of c-Si PV modules performance that operated in extreme environmental conditions. This evaluation usually consists of I-V curve field measurements and visual inspections.