Closing the UV-Induced Photodegradation Gap Through Global Scale Modeling of Fixed Tilt and Tracking Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation accelerates the degradation of photovoltaic (PV) modules, both at the cell and module levels, leading to reduced efficiency and a shorter lifespan. While reliability testing has advanced, current standards often fail to reflect real-world UV exposure, especially across diverse climates. Global UV irradiance varies widely, from <30 W/m2 in high-latitude regions to >80 W/m2 in arid zones, while standard tests such as IEC-61215 only test up to a dose of 15 kWh /m2 that can be reached in less than 50 days in some locations. This study develops a high-precision model to estimate UV radiation on tilted surfaces and assesses the influence on UV photodegradation. The model shows minimum bias (