The Five Most Common Problems with Solar Panels

In this article, we are going to take a look at the five most common problems with solar panels. Let’s get started!

Solar panels, like other electronic devices, do have problems. Some of the most common problems with solar panels are micro-cracks on the panels, internal corrosion, hot spots on the panels, etc. These problems pose great challenges to solar panels and, by extension, solar lighting systems.

Whenever solar panels have any of these challenges, it will reduce their efficiency and affect their overall performance. Hence, it is important for you to know these problems to enable you to devise means to avoid them so that they won’t occur at all.

Solar Panels Problems

There are many problems that affect solar panels, which affect their functionality and efficiency. To ensure that you understand the most common problems with solar panels, we are going to discuss the problems in detail, one after the other.

1. Micro-cracks on the Solar Panel

One of the most common problems with solar panels is the micro-cracks in them. Just as the name implies, micro-cracks are very small and microscopic tears in the cells of the solar panels.

This micro-crack normally occurs in the solar panel during the production of PV modules. It may also occur during shipping or installation, especially if they are not handled properly.

Although micro-cracks on solar panels may not affect their performance instantly, they will affect their efficiency over time, especially when panels are exposed to extreme temperature and weather conditions continuously. However, if the micro-cracks are large and many in the solar panels, it will lead to solar cell damage, hence reducing the efficiency and energy production rate of the panels.

Implication of Micro-cracks on the Solar Panel

If there is damage on the contact points in the solar cell, it will lead to a reduction in energy production. This is so because the cells in the solar panels are connected in series; hence, if there is a crack in any of those cells, it is going to lead to a loss of energy. The higher the number of micro-cracks in the solar panels, the more it will reduce the energy capacity of the panels.

Meanwhile, due to advanced technology used in the production of modern solar panels, the problem of micro-cracks is being addressed by installing multiple busbars in the panels. However, it is really expensive to get a solar panel with multiple busbars.

2. Discolouration of the Solar Panel

This is another common problem with solar panels. The discolouration of solar panels is called snail trail. This problem occurs when a defective front metallisation silver paste is used to produce the solar panels. Although there are other factors that may cause it, defective front metallisation silver paste is often the primary cause. When a defective front metallisation silver paste is used to manufacture solar panels, such panels will attract and retain moisture over time, and when this happens, an oxidation reaction will occur between the silver paste and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), leading to checking breakdown of the panels and subsequently affecting their overall performance.

Implications of Discolouration of the Solar Panel

The major negative effect of discolouration of the solar panel is that it will reduce the efficiency and energy production of the panels. What happens is that if there is an oxidation reaction between the silver paste and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), it will lead to the release of silver oxide, acetic acid (vinegar), and hydrogen, which the panels may reabsorb again from their back to their front, which may lead to breakdown in the front of the panels over time.

3. Potential Induced Degradation of the Solar Panel 

 PID is another problem with solar panels. It occurs when there is a difference between the panel and the earthing voltage. What happens is that the solar panels are earthed to ensure that they are safe for users, and when this earthing occurs, there are high chances that there will be a voltage difference between the earthing and the voltage that the panel generated. Sometimes, most of these voltages generated are then discharged to the primary power circuit. When there is potential induced degradation of the panel, the panels will age faster and their efficiency will also reduce.

Implication of PID Effect on the Solar Panel

Potential Induced Degradation of the panel speeds up the ageing of the panel, hence reducing its performance and efficiency. What causes the ageing is that the solar panel is earthed, which may lead to a voltage difference between the panel and the earthing, which may lead to a partial discharge of the voltage in the primary power circuit.

4. Rusting and Delamination of the Solar Panel

 Rusting of solar panels is another common problem that they face. It normally occurs when moisture enters into the panels. If the panel is water- and air-tight, internal corrosion will not occur. However, for a solar panel to be air- and water-tight, its components—the glass layer, the solar cells and the back sheet—are laminated under vacuum. The problem now occurs if the lamination was not done properly. Whenever the lamination seal is broken (delamination), moisture will penetrate into the cells of the solar panels, causing rusting. In addition, wrongly fitted module trim can also lead to internal corrosion of the solar panels.

Internal corrosion of the solar panel often starts at the edge of the panels, and if it is severe, it will spread across the panel with time, leading to their reduced efficiency.

5. Hot spots on the Solar panels

The last but not the least common problem with solar panels on our list is the hot spot on the solar panels. In the simplest terms, hot spots are regions on the panels that are overloaded. hence leading to their unexpected warmness. The major cause of hot spots on solar panels is when the soldered connections are done wrongly. In the same vein, another common reason that may cause hot spots on solar panels is structural defects in the solar cells.

When the cells of solar panels are soldered wrongly, it may lead to lower resistance of the panels that receive the power that the cells generated, hence leading to an increase in voltage and subsequently leading to a hotspot on the soldered point or solar panel cells.

Implication of Hot spots on the Solar panels

The bad effect of hot spots on the solar panels is that it can lead to a short circuit, which will invariably lead to reduced efficiency of the panel and also reduction of the lifespan of the panels.