Table 3
Results of the visual inspection.
| PV module components | Observation and remarks | Images |
|---|---|---|
| Front side Discoloration |
EVA discoloration affects all the PV modules, with varying degrees of severity. It is uniformly widespread over all the cells of the panel. This alteration affects the transmittance of light reaching the solar cells, therefore leading to a reduction in power generation. |  |
| Snail trails | Several snail trails are observed on one PV panel. It appears as a gray/black discoloration on the silver paste of screen-printed front metallization of solar cells. Snail trails observed on this panel vary in shape, color, and size. On two cells of this module, the snail trail is quite visible and thick, and spread across these cells. |  |
| Rear side Bubbles | 45 of the 48 PV panels exhibit bubbles on the rear-side. Some modules may contain multiple bubbles arranged side by side, each varying in size. These bubbles create an air chamber in which the gas temperature is lower than that in the adjacent cells. Bubbles have the potential to rupture, thereby causing damage to the rear sealing surface, hence facilitating the ingress of humidity. It represents a recurring form of degradation within this array, predominantly manifesting in the modules after years of operation. |  |
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