Application of the Sandia Array Performance Model to Assess Multiyear Performance of Fielded CIGS PV Arrays

Copper indium gallium (di)serenade (CIGS) photovoltaic cell technology has long been promoted as a cost-effective alternative to traditional PV modules based on crystalline silicon cells. However, adoption of CIGS is hindered by significant uncertainties regarding long-term reliability and performance stability, as well as a lack of accurate modeling tools to predict CIGS system performance. Sandia is conducting a multi-year study of fielded CIGS systems that range in age from 3–6 years and represent a cross-section of commercial manufacturing and packaging. Most of these arrays include modules that were thoroughly characterized prior to deployment. In this paper, we explore uncertainty in the long-term reliability and performance stability of CIGS modules by analyzing real world performance and degradation rates of these systems.