lectrical Output and Reliability of Photovoltaic Module Using Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene Film

As the supply of photovoltaic (PV) increases worldwide, the cumulative installations in 2018 were 7.9 and 560 GW in Korea and the world, respectively. Typically, when the ground on commercial PV modules is installed, the area is limited; hence, new designs of PV modules are required to install additional PVs. Among the new design of PV modules, lightweight PV modules can be utilized in PV systems, such as buildings, farmlands, and floating PV. Concerning the investigation of lightweight PV modules, several studies on materials for replacing low-iron tempered glass, which comprises approximately 65% of the PV module weight, have been conducted. However, materials that are used as substitutes for glass should possess similar lightweight properties and reliability as glass. In this study, experimental tests were performed to evaluate the applicability of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) film with excellent resistance to water and aging as a front material of PV modules. The transmittance and ultraviolet properties of the ETFE film were determined and compared with those of glass. A 1-cell module and laboratory-scale 24-cell module were manufactured using the ETFE film and glass, and the electrical output was measured and analyzed. Furthermore, damp heat and thermal cycle tests were conducted to evaluate the reliability of the ETFE film module. Based on the experimental results, the electrical output and reliability of the ETFE film module were similar to those of the glass module, and the ETFE film could be used as the front material of PV modules.