Overall objective
The overall objective of Task 2 is to improve the operation, sizing, electrical and economical output of photovoltaic power systems and subsystems by collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on their performance and reliability, providing a basis for their assessment, and developing practical recommendations.
The scope of Task 2 has concerned the information exchange about
activities already in progress in the participants' national programmes. Technical and economic information on performance and long-term reliability are very important for an emerging technology such as PV. Task 2 aims to provide performance data for both general assessments of PV system technologies and improvements of system design and operation.
Task 2 officially started a new work programme in September 2004
for a period of three years, building on previous accomplishments in PV system performance analysis. Task 2 activities are organized into the following Subtasks:
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Summary of Task 2 accomplishments for 2004
During 2004, Task 2 focused on the completion of PV system
performance analysis for the dissemination of Task 2 results and
products within the previous working phase. The public Task website enables downloads and technical information to be provided quickly and cost-effective to the users. The volume of visitors to the Task website, their countries and sectors as well as the number of PVPS Task 2 products retrieved are being tracked to measure the extent to which the website is visited and the products are used (Figure 2).
Task 2 participants identified a need for additional work on aspects of PV system reliability, PV technology assessments, performance prediction and PV system cost analysis. A workplan for the extension of the Task was developed and the PVPS Executive Committee approved the new work programme in October 2004.
- Subtask 1: International Database
The PV Performance Database was updated and the programme was
released in June 2004 as a tool for planning, sizing and improving
PV systems with respect to operational performance and reliability.
The new Performance Database contains high quality data of 414 PV
systems of different system technologies, located in 21 countries.
The update of June 2004 provides 14 580 monthly datasets from
grid-connected and stand-alone PV systems of a total power of
12 MW. The Performance Database programme (47 MB) is available
on CD-ROM (Figure 3) and can be downloaded from the Task website
http://www.iea-pvps-task2.org.
Task 2 focused on the dissemination and promotion of the Task 2
database. This was achieved through the networks developed in each
country by the Task participants and by presenting the database
programme at PV conferences, seminars and in PV training courses.
As a result, 2 596 database users from 77 different countries and a broad range of sectors are making best use of the Task 2 database for their applications in planning & consulting, education, production and research. In 2004, highest demand for the Performance Database came from the private sector and the engineering sector, followed by the education and industry sector.
- Subtask 2: Analysis of Photovoltaic Systems
PV system performance analysis was continued and completed for
the following activities:
- The Availability of Irradiation Data - This report provides
information on the availability of irradiation data to be used to
assess the performance of PV systems. Final draft report was
reviewed and published in December 2004.
- Tools for Checking the Performance of PV Systems - It will be
finalized as internal working document.
- Shadings Effects on PV System Performance - not available.
- Temperature Effects on PV System Performance - Based
on collected hourly data, temperature gains and losses were
calculated for selected PV systems. An internal report was
prepared and distributed in May 2004.
- Long-Term Performance and Reliability Analysis of PV Systems
Case studies on long-term performance trends, on reduced yield
analysis and on components failures were elaborated. A final draft
report was reviewed and will be published in early 2005.
- Country Reports on PV System Performance - The country
reports on Austrian, French, German, Italian, Japanese and
Swiss systems gives an overview of the PV systems in each
country. The report was finalized and published in December 2004.
- Subtask 4: Improving PV System Performance
Different documents on simulation tools have been collected and evaluated.
The overview on simulation tools will be continued and improved. Regarding
energy management strategies (EMS), a report on “Energy Management Strategies
for Hybrid Energy Systems” was prepared in collaboration with Task
3. Case studies have been selected to initiate activities on “optimum
operational conditions for stand-alone hybrid systems.”
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Summary of Task 1 activities planned for 2005
Task 2 activities for 2005 will focus on the new activities of the
extended work programme running from September 2004 to August
2007: Subtask 5 will make technical assessments and identify
technology trends of PV systems by broadening the previous work
and by exploiting the wealth of existing data. Subtask 6 will collect and investigate performance and cost data of PV systems.
- Subtask 1: International Database
The target date for publication of the fifth version of the
PV Performance Database is June 2005. The updated Performance
Database will be available for Internet downloads and on CD-ROM
at the 20th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and
Exhibition in Barcelona in June 2005. Furthermore, Task 2 will develop and review a web-based Performance Database using selected
database information. The goal is to build up an online database on PV system performance and reliability during the coming two years.
- Subtask 2: Analysis of Photovoltaic Systems
The activities of PV system performance analysis will be completed, as follows:
- Tools for Checking the Performance of PV Systems Activity leader France will finalize the work and produce an internal report.
- Long-Term Performance and Reliability Analysis of PV Systems
Activity leader Germany will review the recommendations and the results of the case studies and publish them in a public report.
- Subtask 5: Technical Assessments and Trends of PV Systems
Task 2 analyzes and validates 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.
Planned activities include the work on performance, acceptance
and standardization of PV in the built environment, technological
choices and strategies with respect to PV system reliability and
the improvement of performance prediction with respect to both
the solar resource and system performance.
- Subtask 6: PV System Cost over Time
Task 2 will 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. Furthermore, an Internet-based survey will be developed, reviewed and published in 2005 in order to gain additional economic data from global customers.
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Industry involvement
PV industry, particularly, the European PV industry (EPIA) and the
German Solar Industry Association, support Task 2 work and gain
first-hand technical and non-technical information on performance
and reliability issues. PVPS and industry workshops will be organized.
Task 2 benefits from its co-operation with PV industries, electricity utilities and other agencies, both for collection and analysis of PV system data and for dissemination of technical information to target audiences.
PV industries, engineering & consulting companies and utilities are important and well-represented user groups of the Task 2
Performance Database, who are gaining valuable information from
the data provided.
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Key deliverables (2004 and planned)
The following publications were prepared and presented at the
19th European PV Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Paris
in June 2004:
During 2005 it is planned to produce and disseminate a fifth version of the Task 2 Performance Database to be released in June 2005, which will be available at the 20th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Barcelona in June 2005. It is also planned to prepare and publish conference proceedings on Task 2 results, performance analysis & reliability and on global aspects of building-integrated PV, and to launch an internet-based survey on PV system and maintenance costs.
Public reports and other materials are made available at the PVPS
website, publications' section. The Performance Database programme,
database updates and Task 2 publications can be downloaded from
the Task website http://www.iea-pvps-task2.org.
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Participants
Task 2 participants and experts supporting them are listed in Task 2 participants.
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Meeting schedule (2004 and planned 2005)
- The 10th Task 2 Participants' Meeting (phase 2) was held in
Erlenbach, Switzerland, 22-24 March 2004.
- The 1st Task 2 Participants' Meeting (phase 3) was held in Ispra, European Commission Joint Research Centre, 20-22 September 2004 (Figure 4).
- The 2nd Task 2 Participants' Meeting will be held in Cocoa, USA, 28 February - 2 March 2005.
- The 3rd Task 2 Participants' Meeting will be held in Hameln,
Germany, 26-28 September 2005.
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