Dedicated cold-climate field laboratory for photovoltaic system and component studies: the Michigan Regional Test Center as a case study

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

11-14-2022

Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Abstract

Snow and ice accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels is a recognized-but poorly quantified-contributor to PV performance, not only in geographic areas that see persistent snow in winter but also at lower latitudes, where frozen precipitation and 'snowmageddon' events can wreak havoc with the solar infrastructure. In addition, research on the impact of snow and cold on PV systems has not kept pace with the proliferation of new technologies, the rapid deployment of PV in northern latitudes, and experiences with long-term field performance. This paper describes the value of a dedicated outdoor research facility for longitudinal performance and reliability studies of emerging technologies in cold climates.

Publication Title

Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference

ISBN

9781728161174

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