OSED

Photovoltaic systems belong to the green energy dynamics which is an ambitious program based on energy efficiency and sustainable development. In this study, the impact of the aging of a photovoltaic module is investigated on the electrical performance of a grid-connected system. A photovoltaic conversion chain with MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) control and LC (Inductor-Capacitor) filter is modeled and dimensioned according to the grid constraints. A method of hybridation detection of the MPPT coupling long-time aging evolution and short-time determination is proposed. Aging laws for the electrical and optical degradations of the photovoltaic module are introduced for the long-time evolution. Results display the lowering of the maximal power point with a rate of 1%/year and a slight augmentation of the THD over time even though it remains inferior to the IEEE standard STD 19-1992 maximum value of 5% for a usage of 20 years. Moreover, an equivalent scheme for the additional electrical resistance engendered by the aging of the photovoltaic module regarding other resistances of the photovoltaic system is given. Finally, the elevation of this resistance by 12.8% in 20 years may have non-negligible consequences on the power production of a large-scale installation.

Though gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells are proven to be relatively stable in space working conditions, they are prone to the effects of aging, which deteriorate their characteristics. The lifetime of solar cells is restricted by the degree of radiation damage that they receive. This important factor affects the performance of solar cells in practical applications. The aim of this article is to investigate by numerical simulation on the influence of aging on the main characteristics of GaAs solar cells in the space. Degradations of the electrical characteristics are simulated for over a period of 15 years. The atmosphere (AM0) conversion efficiency decreases with time from 19.08% for the unirradiated cells to 10.38% in 15 years of the mission in space. Even with low doses of particle irradiation, the performance is significantly reduced subsequent to usage over the period of 15 years of the mission in space. Numerical simulation results also reveal that the short-circuit current, the open-circuit voltage, and the conversion efficiency decline gradually with time. Moreover, the calculated evolutions are in good agreement with the measured behaviors of GaAs-based solar cells embedded in geostationary satellites during the Navigation Technology Satellite 2 (NTS-2), the Engineering Test Satellite V (ETS-V), and the NAVigation Satellite Timing And Ranging (NAVSTAR) missions, which substantiate the introduced aging law accounting for both the cumulated doses of particles and the different electron and hole traps in the structure.