As part of the IEA PVPS programme, Task 2 collects and analyzes performance data of PV power plants in various system techniques and disseminates suitable information on the performance, long-term reliability and the technical and economic output of PV systems and subsystems. Task 2 provides this service to a diverse target audience, including PV system specialists, utilities and manufacturers, research laboratories, system designers and installers, standardization organizations and the education sector. This is achieved through three main activities:
Develop and upgrade an international database on operational performance, reliability and cost data of grid-connected and stand-alone PV systems from national representatives and other sources. The PVPS Task 2 Performance Database contains 431 PV systems located worldwide and 15537 annual sets of monthly data, each comprising a subset of monthly values. The benefit of the upgraded database lies in sharing technical information focusing on long-term performance and reliability of PV systems and providing tools for practical and educational purposes. The IEA PVPS Task 2 database is designed for normalized analysis and representation of performance data from different PV applications. The current database in the version of the June 2005 can be downloaded here. [Top]
2. Technical Assessments and Trends of PV systems
Task 2 participants analyze and validate expertise and performance results of PV systems, both in order to ensure the quality and comparability of information gathered in the Performance Database and to identify high performance products, technologies and design methodology. This will foster the development of maximum conversion efficiency and optimum integration of PV. Activities will include:
Recommendations on the performance, acceptance and technical standardisation of PV in the built environment;
Comparing technological choices and strategies with respect to PV system reliability;
Lessons learnt and trend identification for the planners' and users' community;
Analysing the end-user's consciousness of the performance of PV systems;
Improving performance prediction in acting both on the solar resource and on the system performance sides.
Four reports on PV system performance analysis, long-term operational performance and reliability of PV systems and on the availability of irradiation data were published and are available for Internet downloads. [Top]
3. Photovoltaic System Cost over Time
Task participants identify and evaluate the important elements, which are responsible for the life cycle economic performance of PV systems by investigating economic data for all key components of PV systems and by gathering information about real life costs of maintenance of PV systems. An Internet-based survey will be developed and published in order to gain additional economic data from global customers. The investigations include:
Collecting and investigating economic data for the key components of PV systems;
Comparing actual data of system cost of turnkey systems for different markets in different countries as well as different sizes of installations;
Collecting data and information about real life costs of maintenance of PV systems;
Balancing the investments, the capital costs against the electrical and economical output of the PV system during its life cycle;
Predicting performance life expectancy, mean time between failure and costs to service and replace parts.
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modified on 10/20/05