I found this summary from NERL, released 2011
Reported degradation rates in the literature appear to show a significant improvement for thin-film technologies during the past decade mirroring findings of our own study encompassing more than 40 modules. A Shell Solar CIGS 1.12 kW system fielded at NREL provides a clear example of stable operation. No significant performance decline has been found for the array after 5 years of outdoor exposure using several different performance metrics. Indoor measurements taken before and after field exposure confirm the stability of the system with the exception of one module that showed ~5% decline, possibly caused by a defect introduced during the manufacturing process. Carl E. OK any good data from outdoor tests showing energy produced by thin film compared to crystalline in the same conditions would be most helpful. Can anyone confirm that NERL tested Unisolar for long term degradation and the results were not published. is this a myth? Carl E. HI Carl, I can't seem to be able to get that data off the site. Maybe someone else can. It is a main reason I bought the subscription, just to support their great testing work. jay On Jun 2, 2013, at 8:30 PM, Carl Emerson wrote: Hi Jay, Thanks for that, yes, I have seen the setup you refer to and it is very comprehensive, but I thought that your reference to the 151 modules was a lab test at STC and not an outdoor test for energy yield. Can you send the link to the outdoor test results please. Many Thanks, Carl Emerson Hi Carl, Here is the link to how Photon measures each module. http://www.photon.info/photon_lab_modul_ertragsm_en.photon?ActiveID=1289 and http://www.photon.info/photon_lab_modul_ertragsmAD_en.photon?ActiveID=4382 Can you please tell me how they are doing it wrong, and what the test would look like in doing it right? Many thanks, jay peltz power On Jun 2, 2013, at 3:27 PM, Carl Emerson wrote: Jay, The short answer is no. These are not real world tests of energy yield under 'normal' outdoor conditions. Photon are setting up field tests for 2013 in Germany and the middle East. Then they will have some useful data. Carl E. Hi Carl Would like to see real data. Photon publishes their module data, and thin film are no where near the top of the list. Nexpower. #14 First solar. #131 Total of 151 modules in the test. Jay Peltz power Sent from my iPad On Jun 1, 2013, at 6:20 PM, "Carl Emerson" <c...@solarking.net.nz> wrote:
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