An insight into a combined effect of backsheet and EVA encapsulant on field degradation of PV modules

Abstract Polymer components, in particular, backsheets (BSs) and ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulants, play a crucial role the degradation of commercial silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules. Degradation mechanisms depend complex way on composition properties all involved polymers. In this study, we demonstrate that differences EVA presence additives, such as UV blockers, affect degradative processes decisive way, even for modules with identical BSs. A combination spectral, imaging, electrical characterization techniques applied mixed lab/field study showed field aging PV same BSs different encapsulant components results development signs, insulation resistance loss, corrosion metal interconnects, water ingress, oxidation depth encapsulant, potential‐induced degradation, depending additives encapsulant. The present provides an outlook influence polymer lifetime performance