Losses Comparison and Analysis for Fault Modes of Grid-connected Photovoltaic System

This paper presents losses comparison and analysis results for different types of fault modes of grid-connected photovoltaic system generated for long-term operation. The approach of losses comparison and analysis by faults is to identify relationship between measured and estimated values of five loss factors which are quantified from irradiance to system output power. This paper presents the symptom results for faults such as snow, shading, sensor defect, blackout, soiling and so on from three years or more monitored data. These results will indicate that it is useful to develop fault detection and diagnosis tool to enhance capacity factor and save operation and maintenance cost of grid-connected photovoltaic system in the field.