Project: Novel encapsulant for long lifetime high voltage PID-resistant PV modules

Acronym	NELL (Reference Number: 77)
Duration	01/03/2018 - 31/12/2019
Project Topic	Photovoltaic energy already plays a key role in the global energy market, and it is expected that it will meet 8% of the EU electricity demand in 2020. The PV industry in Europe has lost market share in the last years due to strong competition from Eastern producers. Europe has nevertheless maintained the scientific and technical leadership and should take advantage of this to further increase efficiency and reliability of PV systems, contributing thus to strenghten the competitiveness fo the European PV industry and to accelerate PV deployment in Europe. One solution to decrease system costs which is being demanded by the market is the transition to high voltage systems up to 1500 V and beyond. Higher voltage can yield to system cost savings between 3 and 10% by reducing BOS components and increasing DC yield. High voltage, however, also implies a higher risk for potential induced degradation (PID) of PV modules. This, in turn, requires the development of new materials for PID-free PV module certification which ensure high reliability and do not increase significantly the module cost. The main goal of the NELL project is precisely to develop a highly PID-resistant encapsulant able to avoid PID even under harsh humidity and temperature conditions in high voltage systems up to 1500 V. The project will thus significantly contribute to the SET-plan goal of reducing the levelised cost of electricity by 20% in 2020, at the same time as ensuring 30 years lifetime with a 90% power reduction. The NELL consortium has a strong industry participation and is formed by entities with a very long trajectory in PV in Europe. It is led by STR, global leader in encapsulant development for the PV industry, who has strategically partnered with ZSW, technology center who has played a key role in the understanding and measurement of the PID phenomenon in recent years.
Website	visit project website
Network	SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund
Call	SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	Specialized Technology Resources España S.A.	Coordinator	Spain
2	Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg MSA	Partner	Germany