New Delhi: As temperatures rise in areas experiencing warmth waves, the effectivity of photo voltaic panels faces a consequent decline. Ideally suited to function round 25°C, these panels will expertise a drop in effectivity because the temperature fluctuates above this mark.
For a temperature enhance between 1°C and 5°C above the optimum temperature threshold, the effectivity of the photo voltaic panel decreases from 0.3 p.c to 1.5 p.c, specialists say. ETEnergyWorld.
“Heatwaves can have an effect on the effectivity of photo voltaic panels as a result of they’re designed to work properly between 15°C and 35°C, with peak efficiency at 25°C,” mentioned Sharad Pungalia, managing director. and chief government officer, Amplus Solar.
He mentioned that the upper temperature will increase the resistance contained in the photo voltaic cells, thus decreasing the voltage and the entire energy output.
“In common, the effectivity of a silicon photo voltaic panel drops by 0.3 p.c to 0.5 p.c for each diploma Celsius at 25°C,” mentioned Ankush Malik, COO, Juniper Green Energy.
Ashish Agarwal, head of photo voltaic enterprise at BluPine Energy, a Gurugram-based renewable power platform setup in India by Actis, mentioned warmth waves lead to increased temperatures for each 5°C enhance that interprets into one p.c to 1.5 p.c loss in power era, resulting in decrease whole energy era in the long run.
According to Pungalia, extended publicity to excessive temperatures can even trigger elevated put on and tear, which might result in microcracks and different bodily harm over time. These elements lead to low effectivity, which poses financial and operational challenges for the venture.
At low temperatures, photo voltaic panels are more practical at changing daylight into electrical energy. High temperatures throughout warmth waves trigger the thermal resistance of the photo voltaic cell to extend, which lowers the voltage output and total effectivity.
Experts say these are monetary implications of heatwaves on photo voltaic initiatives as properly. While regular summer time circumstances are already thought of within the annual estimate, heatwaves negatively have an effect on the effectivity of photo voltaic modules, resulting in a discount in power era and lack of earnings.
“Extreme temperatures require extra frequent upkeep of elements. Investing in expertise and cooling methods to face up to increased temperatures additional will increase capital expenditure,” mentioned Pungalia.
BluPine’s Agarwal mentioned excessive warmth can cut back employee productiveness and gradual development of photo voltaic initiatives.
“These delays may be pricey, with estimates suggesting {that a} one-month delay interprets into elevated prices of round 4 lakhs per megawatt of photo voltaic capability,” he added.
In addition to this, warmth waves additionally pose well being, security, and environmental challenges for photo voltaic venture development as properly. Because photo voltaic farms are sometimes positioned in open, unshaded areas, excessive temperatures make it tough for staff to carry out their duties safely.
“This can result in a lower in productiveness and venture delays because of the mandatory changes equivalent to shifting the work time from 7 AM to 11 AM, with a break, after which resume from 4 PM,” Agarwal mentioned.
Malik mentioned the main challenges are decreasing power output, accelerating materials degradation, thereby shortening the lifetime of photo voltaic panels, and sustaining optimum temperatures could require extra cooling methods. thus rising the price of operation.
He added that fluctuations in power output can problem the steadiness of the grid, particularly throughout peak demand that coincides with warmth waves. Reduced effectivity and better upkeep prices can delay the return on funding.
