Criticality and severity of adverse effects of the sun on performance of solar PV systems

Abstract

The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy that could be harnessed by solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to supply all the present and future global electricity needs. However, using the sun as source of energy for PV systems to generate electricity is associated with numerous adverse effects on the performance of PV systems. This paper aims to provide comprehensive information about the criticality and severity of adverse effects of the sun on performance of PV systems. Through a detailed literature review, risk priority number (RPN) analysis was performed to quantify the relative degree of a combination of criticality and severity of adverse effects of the sun on performance of PV systems under initial exposure to solar radiation, high solar radiation, low solar radiation, intermittent solar radiation, and no solar radiation conditions. Finally, it suggests strategies to curtail these effects to ensure sustainability of PV systems. It was concluded that under each condition of solar radiation intensity, the performance of PV systems is adversely affected. However, the degree of criticality and severity of these adverse effects vary under various solar radiation conditions. The combined effects of the determinants of low solar radiation make low solar radiation condition the dominant adverse effects with the highest RPN. Consequently, the degree of criticality and severity of the adverse effects on the performance of PV systems is highest under low solar radiation condition. Thus, the determinants of low solar radiation should be given priority consideration in the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of PV systems.