Development of a Grid-Tied Photovoltaics Performance and Reliability Database

It has become increasingly apparent that the photovoltaics industry is in need of a resource for performance, reliability and economic information on fielded PV systems. This information would help manufacturers, distributors, utilities and other relevant parties in determining trends in operation, maintenance, and essential costs. By recognizing these recurring patterns, changes can be made in product design, manufacturing processes, installation procedures, or purchasing patterns to address, mitigate and/or correct these issues. Sandia National Laboratories has been developing a photovoltaics reliability database, with the Florida Solar Energy Center providing development and support for a database housing information on grid-tied systems. This paper contains a progress report on the status of the database and some preliminary results of analyses based on this data.