Featured in A solar lifeline – 07-2021

Taking the heat

It happens every day: A bird flies over a rooftop solar panel array and deposits an unwelcome offering on a cell. Bird droppings are an annoyance that need to be cleaned off, but can also result in a hot spot on the affected cell, impacting the entire panel’s output and potentially affecting its long-term performance.

By

David Wagman

08 Jul 2021

Image: IdealPV

The phenomenon that causes hotspots is known as reverse bias, and it is a hallmark of something that is an Achilles heel for the solar industry. That’s because a single cell weakened caused by a bird dropping or shadow can be overpowered by stronger cells that surround it. Those neighboring cells send a reverse flow …

This article is part of pv+

Subscribe digitally to unlock exclusive investigative reporting, expert insights, in-depth analysis, and premium background coverage. Your subscription also includes full access to the digital edition of our magazine.