In this paper, practical field performance of poly-crystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, which were installed at rooftop of the department of electrical engineering BVRIT, has been studied and the correlation between efficiency, temperature and degradation rate of modules as per STC conditions has been presented. The nominal output power of the PV module considered for the study is 240 Wp and the panel is compressed of 60 cells in a 10×6 matrix connected in series. After few operation years under tropical environment, the degradation rate of electrical characteristics such as I-V and P-V curves, open-circuit voltage (Voc), shortcircuit current (Isc), maximum output current (Imax), maximum output voltage (Vmax), maximum power output (Pmax) and fill factor (FF) are evaluated at standard test conditions (STC). Through this study, it has been noticed that the efficiency of solar panel is linearly inversely proportional to temperature and degradation rate in a linear fashion.Cite this Article Greeshma P, Ramchander N. Performance and Degradation Analysis of Poly-Crystalline PV Modules Installed in Tropical Conditions. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Embedded System & Applications. 2016; 4(3): 5–10p.
