A Methodology for Photovoltaic System Reliability & Economic Analysis

This paper describes the approach and progress on a 1981 study of photovoltaic (PV) system reliability being conducted by Battelle-Columbus for Sandia Laboratories as part of DOE´s PV Systems Definition Project. Initially, the study is concerned with the functional modeling of reliability and maintenance of a PV system. We begin with relatively general, but simple, system level reliability models that can be expanded to more detailed, lower-level forms as input data justify. Corrective maintenance is Included to permit estimates of system availability. The output of these models will be coupled with life-cycle energy cost models and applied to PV system designs.