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Do Tropical Climates Guarantee Better Solar Panel Performance?

Posted on June 30, 2021

Do Tropical Climates Guarantee Better Solar Panel Performance?

Littleton, CO homeowners face the big problem of autumn and winters. Alternatively, cloudy skies with rain are their primary problems during summer. Therefore, most believe that sunny weather always equals a better-powered solar array.

Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Tropical countries face numerous environmental challenges that make solar panel use inefficient.

High Humidity

Tropical countries suffer from high humidity. The direct sunlight will immediately vaporize all water after rainfall. By doing this, high humidity disrupts photovoltaic cell activity and power generation consequently.

High Ambient Temperatures

PV cells work best in moderate temperatures. Plus, they can survive cold environments better than hot ambient temperatures. 

High ambient temperatures affect PV power generation capabilities. In addition, they have the potential to fry their circuits due to excessive heat.

Diffuse Light During Consecutive Rainy Seasons

Tropical countries suffer from frequent cloudiness during their monsoon seasons. Diffuse light does not produce enough sunlight for electrical consumption.

Here is an excerpt of a Singapore case study focused on solar panel adoption in the country. Read more about it to learn more about why tropical countries suffer equal or further challenges towards adopting solar technologies.

The sunbelt regions of the globe on either side of the equator represent a vast potential for the generation of photovoltaic (PV) electricity. However, PV modules deployed in tropical regions face a different set of environmental conditions than PV modules deployed in temperate regions where the majority of today’s PV markets exist. The tropical climate poses several unique challenges for PV modules. High year-round humidity is the greatest threat to PV module durability, while high ambient temperatures and highly diffuse light conditions can negatively affect PV module output power.

Given this situation, SERIS is undertaking a research project to develop “Singapore modules” which are specifically tailored to perform better and last longer in tropical climates. This paper presents an overview of the scope of the project, as well as first key findings and results. The first phase of the project involved a detailed study of the state of the art in today’s PV module technologies.

Ten different module technologies were chosen for evaluation, representing today’s most commonly used PV technologies. These commercial modules were subjected to standard accelerated aging tests, as well as tightened accelerated aging tests to identify strengths and weaknesses of the various technologies. Outdoor performance monitoring of each module type is also on-going. The results obtained during the first phase of the project are being used to guide the development of Singapore modules. First prototype Singapore modules have been fabricated, and a 10 kWp testbedding system has been installed in Singapore.

Roper Roofing & Solar has been supplying the best solar panel and roofing services in Littleton, CO, for decades. Contact us today to learn more about everything that we can do for you.

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Don't be fooled by a roof that looks unaffected. Our free tool can tell you the exact dates and how many times your roof was hit by extreme weather.
By checking this box, I authorize Roper Roofing and Solar to send me marketing calls and text messages at the number provided above, including by using an autodialer or a prerecorded message. I understand that I am not required to give this authorization as a condition of doing business with Roper Roofing and Solar. By checking this box, I am also agreeing to Roper Roofing and Solar Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.