The ability to design solar cells with long service life depends on an understanding of the factors responsible for their degradation. To build better, researchers from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Electric Power Research Institute have been busy breaking photovoltaic modules.

Simulations and laboratory tests take the place of outdoor weathering experiments, which can take years to complete. Emphasis is placed on the formation of cracks and their implications for power generation reliability. The accelerated testing sounds out cracking formation and weathering rates by use of powerful speakers to subject photovoltaic devices to rapid pulses of infrasonic sound waves. The test set-up replicates the effect of years of outdoor exposure in only a few hours or days.

These investigations are underway as part of a Durable Module Materials Consortium project.