PV Capacity Evaluation Using ASTM E2848: Techniques for Accuracy and Reliability in Bifacial Systems

A variety of test methodologies are commonly used to assess if a photovoltaic system can perform in line with expectations generated by a computer simulation. One of the commonly used methodologies across the PV industry is an ASTM E2848. ASTM E2848-13, 2023 test method provides measurement and analysis procedures for determining the capacity of a specific photovoltaic system built in a particular place and in operation under natural sunlight. This test method is mainly used for acceptance testing of newly installed photovoltaic systems, reporting of DC or AC system performance, and monitoring of photovoltaic system performance. The purpose of the PV Capacity Test and modeled energy test is to verify that the integrated system formed from all components of the PV Project has a production capacity that achieves the Guaranteed Capacity and the Guaranteed modeled AEP under measured weather conditions that occur when each PV Capacity Test is conducted. In this paper, we will be discussing ASTM E2848 PV Capacity test plan purpose and scope, methodology, Selection of reporting conditions (RC), data requirements, calculation of results, reporting, challenges, acceptance criteria on pass/fail test results, Cure period, and Sole remedy for EPC contractors for bifacial irradiance.

Role of solar power in shifting the Turkish electricity sector towards sustainability

This work covers a three-stage evaluation:cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessment(LCA)of polycrystalline silicon(pc-Si)and monocrys-talline silicon(mc-Si)solar photovoltaics(PVs)as on-grid utility-scale energy options;environmental-impact distribution of pc-Si and mc-Si combinations under local conditions in Turkey;and assessment of the role of solar power in improving the environmental per-formance of the Turkish electricity mix.In LCA,mc-Si panels are found to have 4.47-9.16%higher environmental impacts than pc-Si panels in absolute terms.However,the higher efficiency and slower degradation rate of mc-Si panels make them have lower impacts on a kWh electricity basis.For the solar PV combination,the global-warming potential(GWP)and human-toxicity potential(HTP)re-sults are found to be significantly lower than that of home-scale pc-Si systems(27.1-34.4 g versus 33.7-59.9 g CO_(2) equivalent(eq)/kWh 30.6-38.9 g versus 65.9-117 g 1-4 dichlorobenzene(g 1-4 DB)eq/kWh)operating in Turkey due to the higher capacity and efficiency of the utility-scale system.This result reveals the advantage of utilizing solar power as a centralized energy option for the country.All of the eight impacts that we evaluated reduce increasingly with increasing solar percentage in the electricity mix.The general ten-dency is that each percentage increase in solar electricity in the mix reduces each impact by~1.0%.With a conservative assumption,if the solar power ratio in the mix increases to 15%by 2030,a GWP reduction of 31.3 million tons can be achieved.This corresponds to 12.7%of the greenhouse-gas mitigation commitment(246 million tons CO_(2) eq)made by Turkey under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.With the Turkish electricity sector being dominated by imported coal and natural gas,the obtained results reveal the potential of solar power in improving the environmental performance of the electricity mix in Turkey.