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Attaining a 30‐year photovoltaic system lifetime: The BOS issues
Author(s) -
Durand Steven J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.4670020205
Subject(s) - reliability engineering , photovoltaic system , downtime , reliability (semiconductor) , component (thermodynamics) , power (physics) , electric power system , quality (philosophy) , computer science , grid connected photovoltaic power system , automotive engineering , engineering , electrical engineering , maximum power point tracking , voltage , philosophy , physics , epistemology , quantum mechanics , inverter , thermodynamics
Failures of power conditioning systems and balance of system (BOS) components have been responsible for the majority of system downtime in virtually all of the USA's large grid‐tied photovoltaic (PV) power plants. For these and future PV power plants, therefore, improvements in component reliability must be made before the design goal of a 30‐year system liftime can be attained. Advances in technology can increase reliability and still reduce costs of PV modules and power conditioning systems. However, since BOS components come generally from mature technologies, increased reliability must be attained through the purchase of higher quality components.