Why are solar PV cells prone to micro-cracks?

The silicon used in solar PV cells is very thin (in the range of 180 +/- 20 microns) and hence is susceptible to damage easily if the PV module's production and handling are not up to the required standards. Even slight imperfections in the PV cell can lead to large micro-cracks once it is incorporated into the PV module.

What is a dark cell pattern in a PV module?

Dark cell patterns (especially around the edge of the module) indicate the presence of MID products such as metal oxides and acetates [12, 14, 19, 30 ]. In addition, most of the darker cells are located nearer to the perimeter of the PV module.

Where are dark cells located in a PV module?

In addition, most of the darker cells are located nearer to the perimeter of the PV module. Degraded cells around the edges of the PV module indicate moisture induced PID, as indicated by the βJmpp.

Do cracks in photovoltaic cells affect efficiency?

However defects on the surface of the photovoltaic cells have a detrimental effect on them. Thus, research focuses on one hand on the degradation caused by the cracks namely on their impacts on the efficiency of photovoltaic modules and on the other hand on the techniques which are used to spot them.

What causes Microcracking in solar cells?

The thermal processing steps especially induces thermochemical stress, and hence, microcracking in the solar cells. Usually, some of the microcracks formed during the manufacturing phase of the production process are not detected.

Where does dust accumulate on solar panels?

Dust accumulation on PV cells, and consequently the work of the solar PV system, is greatly influenced by the geographic location and climatic conditions of where the PV panels are mounted; the areas with the most dust accumulation in the world are the Middle East and North Africa (Ghazi et al., 2014).