3 ms·
I’d think a PV panel runs cooler under load since it diverts ~25% of the light energy hitting it down the wire as electricity instead of just heating up the pan
by Scoundreller 3y ago
I’d think a PV panel runs cooler under load since it diverts ~25% of the light energy hitting it down the wire as electricity instead of just heating up the panel. Otherwise where else is the light energy going with no load?
If that theory is correct, paying someone to take your electricity is worthwhile.
Of course, it could operate its own shunt load on-site but not worth it if it runs a few hours a year.
And I’ve no idea if a panel has a longer or shorter lifespan if it just runs hotter but unloaded. But definitely going to take a hit to production if prices go positive in 5 minutes but your panel is baking.
- konschubert 3y agoIt’s true that a panel runs cooler under load but this does not affect lifespan in a way that warrants paying even $0.001 to deliver the power.
- Scoundreller 3y agoIf we assume 1st order decay, 1h at at a 10C hotter temperature will reduce lifespan by 2-3h. And like I said, hot panels reduce production so in 5 or 50 minutes when rates are positive, losing 5-10% of your production is no Bueno. Panels usually have passive cooling, so if there’s little wind… It really sounds like nobody has modelled. There is some negative value worth selling for but nobody seems to know what it is (or keeps it a secret)