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					</table><p>Around a fifth of the solar panels examined in a news study by the University of New South Wales (<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNSW</a>) were found to fail much faster than expected, with some likely to last for only half of their lifetime.</p>
<p>Researchers identified the reason behind the so-called ‘long tail’ in the probability distribution of the performance data after analyzing information obtained from nearly 11,000 different photovoltaic samples globally.</p>
<p>When the researchers plotted yearly degradation rates from a large global dataset, they observed a long tail of outliers in which systems performed far worse than expected.</p>
<p>According to the report, the typical decline across the dataset is around 0.9% per year, and nearly 20% of all samples perform 1.5 times worse than the average.</p>
<p>For some, the useful life is around 11 years, and they could lose nearly 45% of their output over a 25-year lifespan.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-88986 aligncenter" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/UNSW-1-300x143.png" alt="Researchers Find 20% of Solar Panels Degrade Faster than Expected" width="300" height="143" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/UNSW-1-300x143.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/UNSW-1-600x285.png 600w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/UNSW-1.png 602w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>The report attributed the ‘long tail’ bad performers mainly to the cascading effect, which means that one defect triggers other failures. Also, some modules fail early due to manufacturing defects that slip past quality control.</p>
<p>The researchers found that there are interconnected failures, when different types of failures can interact with each other on an individual panel. The domino effect, when issues don’t just add up but multiply, can be seen as making modules degrade faster than expected.</p>
<p>Also, there are minor initial flaws that may not cause problems at first but can lead to severe performance degradation over time.</p>
<p>The researchers added that climate alone doesn’t explain the ‘long tail,’ as degradation patterns persist even when very hot climate regions are excluded.</p>
<p>Shukla Poddar, a co-author of the paper, said: “A subset of the data shows information specifically related to solar modules in very hot climates, which we know causes higher degradation.”</p>
<p>“However, in other climates, when those hot regions are being excluded from the analysis, we see a similar long-tail pattern in the probability distribution of performance degradation rate. This suggests that the issue is consistent regardless of where the panels are operating.”</p>
<p>The researchers added that even if 20% are bad outliers, a utility-scale project has thousands of modules, and the ‘long tail’ becomes a major financial and energy-yield risk.</p>
<p>The report adds that current tests are not enough, as real-world operations involve many interacting features, so the industry needs better testing standards and more real-world data from large farms to reduce these surprise failures.</p>
<p>In 2025, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/uv-tests-exaggerate-degradation-in-topcon-modules-fraunhofer-ise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that ultraviolet tests rate degradation of TOPCon solar modules significantly higher than performance reduction in real-life conditions. The research shows that common UV tests can significantly exaggerate the degradation effect.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, researchers from UNSW and the Chinese solar module manufacturer LONGi <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mitigating-chemical-degradation-in-topcon-solar-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that the rear side of TOPCon cells, particularly the silicon nitride layer, is prone to chemical degradation when exposed to sodium-based salts, leading to a significant loss of open-circuit voltage.</p>


Researchers Find 20% of Solar Panels Degrade Faster than Expected


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					</table><p>The accelerating technological advancement of solar modules risks exacerbating the challenges of durability and cell degradation, according to a new review from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (<a href="https://www.nrel.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NREL</a>), which examined the reliability implications of emerging trends in crystalline-silicon photovoltaic (PV) module design.</p>
<p>The trends, grouped into four categories, cover larger module sizes, new cell interconnection methods, the rise of bifacial modules, and a transition to next-generation high-efficiency solar cells.</p>
<p>The reliability challenges in &#8216;cell-cracking,&#8217; or degradation, arise from their multistep nature: cracks develop, then propagate, and cell fragments from cracking move, wearing out the fragment-bridging metallization, potentially causing electrical contact loss.</p>
<p>Cell cracking is an umbrella term for a multistep degradation process that can lead to power loss.</p>
<p>Degradation rates also vary due to factors like module design and environmental conditions, complicating accurate reliability assessment. Consequently, technology changes can affect all or none of the degradation steps.</p>
<p>In one study, 84% of PV modules had at least one type of crack, but only 60% had cracks that caused significant power loss.</p>
<p>The research found maintaining module reliability is critical as solar deployments accelerate around the globe and new technologies are introduced before they have been thoroughly field-tested. Determining accurate degradation rates usually requires at least three years of testing in the field.</p>
<p>Increasing module sizes up to 3 square meters may increase the risk of cell cracking and failures from severe weather unless installation methods are improved. According to the research, moving to multi-wire interconnection methods and conductive adhesives instead of solder could introduce new degradation pathways if not adequately tested.</p>
<p><strong>Bifacial modules</strong></p>
<p>The growing adoption of bifacial modules is driving the use of thinner glass to reduce weight. However, researchers warn thinner glass may compromise mechanical integrity and require new hail testing protocols.</p>
<p>Bifacial solar modules capture sunlight from both sides, increasing efficiency. However, if the materials used to seal these modules trap acetic acid, corrosion can accelerate, potentially damaging the modules.</p>
<p>Acetic acid can originate from several sources within solar modules. One common source is the degradation of certain materials used in the encapsulation or backsheet of the modules. When these materials degrade due to exposure to heat and moisture, they can release acetic acid as a byproduct. Acetic acid is also produced if moisture enters the module and reacts with metal components.</p>
<p>Perhaps the biggest reliability unknowns surround the anticipated transition to next-generation solar cells made from n-type silicon, such as silicon heterojunction and tunnel oxide passivating contact architectures. Their ultra-thin surface layers and higher efficiencies create new reliability sensitivities that require updated accelerated testing procedures.</p>
<p>The researchers proposed a continuous &#8220;PV reliability learning cycle&#8221; to incorporate the latest scientific findings into standards and product improvements, ensuring quality control despite the industry&#8217;s relentless technological evolution. Multi-factor modeling, alongside improved field data collection, will be needed to validate models against real-world results.</p>
<p>Another recent study by NREL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/extreme-weather-in-a-small-but-significant-way" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that climate change-induced extreme weather events like hail, flooding, and high winds accelerate solar module damage above certain thresholds, causing greater long-term losses in system performance.</p>
<p>Recently, scientists from MIT said that perovskite solar panels could become more efficient and <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nanoscale-engineering-perovskite-cell-durability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sturdier</a> over longer periods by engineering the nanoscale structure of perovskite devices.</p>


Rapid Innovation Threatens Solar Module Reliability, Researchers Warn


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					</table><p>Solar modules account for nearly 40% of the total project cost. Maintaining their quality and efficiency for the entire lifetime (25-30 years) becomes critical so that the project is economically viable.</p>
<p>The manufacturers&#8217; warranty on solar modules becomes crucial for any solar installations as they build confidence among project developers and investors who own the assets for a long time.</p>
<p>Mercom&#8217;s webinar <strong>&#8216;Solar PV Performance Warranty: Building Market Confidence&#8217;</strong> will explore some of these issues on March 1 at 3 PM.</p>
<p>You can register for the webinar by clicking <a href="https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1155881818944469077?source=Article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>
<p>The webinar will bring together industry experts who will discuss how solar warranty insurance can significantly reduce financial losses in the event of a warranty claim and how crucial they are while selling or refinancing a project. The webinar will also discuss client expectations from such warranty insurance products.</p>
<p>The panelists are Burzin Umrigar, SVP-Head Construction Insurance &amp; Renewable Energy, <a href="https://www.howdenindia.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howden India</a>; Punit Mehta, Director at <a href="https://www.pixonenergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pixon Green Energy</a>; Col Sudhanshu Kamboj, VP-Project Development at <a href="https://www.radiancerenewables.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Radiance Renewables</a>; and Vineet Mittal, Director and Co-founder at <a href="https://navitassolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Navitas Solar</a>.</p>
<p>Priya Sanjay, Managing Director, Mercom India, will moderate the session.</p>
<p>The performance warranties indicate that the solar panels will perform at 80-90% of their capacity over a given period. Product warranty, on the other hand, is based on modules and quality.</p>
<p>Additionally, the performance warranty indicates the modules&#8217; intended degradation. If the solar panels degrade faster than the warranty specifies, the manufacturer is liable to repair or replace the underperforming modules.</p>
<p>Hence, solar module warranty insurance caters to the needs of solar developers and safeguards the insured against module quality and defects in manufacturing and materials.</p>
<p>Solar project tenders mandate module warranties, including product and performance warranties.</p>
<p>Further, the project&#8217;s return on investment (RoI) depends on the amount of electricity generated every year, and system performance degradation needs to be addressed to enhance the RoI of a project.</p>
<p>With the government of India setting a target of 280 GW of solar installations by 2030, solar module warranty insurance acquires greater significance for all stakeholders.</p>


Mercom to Host a Webinar on Solar Module Performance Warranty Insurance


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					</table><p>Researchers at the ARC Training Centre for Future Energy Storage Technologies (<a href="https://storenergy.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">storEnergy</a>) found that the suppression of the lithium metal creep (Li-creep) under controlled conditions can extend the cell cycle life by 40%, resulting in reduced deformation levels of lithium.</p>
<p>While lithium happens to be the most crucial element in batteries, the growth of dendrite, which is a twig-shaped crystal that accumulates atop the anode of Li-ion batteries, leads to certain deformities which are termed lithium metal creep or Li-creep. It degrades the separator within the Li pouch cell.</p>
<p>Separator deformation accelerates internal short circuits in Li-metal batteries and adversely affects the overall performance and life cycle of the cell and the battery.</p>
<p>The experiment was aimed at densifying the lithium deposit by applying external suppression to reduce or control the dendrite growth.</p>
<p>The researchers focussed on various compression-linked methods that lead to the failure of cells. They used scanning electron microscopy while the pouch cells were placed under elevated temperature and discovered a more uniform and less dendritic lithium deposition at higher levels of compression.</p>
<p>The experiment further targeted increased suppression of Li-creep in the battery and the researchers reduced the testing temperature to 25 degrees Celsius while maintaining the compression at a higher level.</p>
<p>Given its lowest electrochemical potential and enhanced capacity, lithium is largely chosen as an anode in all-solid-state batteries.</p>
<p>Experts have been studying the growth of Li dendrites which propagate severely in batteries that use liquid electrolytes. Such batteries have an uneven charge distribution at the interface of the electrolyte and the electrode.</p>
<p>However, in the latest study, the researchers studied the high-capacity lithium metal pouch cells in pyrrolidinium-based ionic liquid electrolytes at high temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Picture1-Lithium-Battery.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-47947 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Picture1-Lithium-Battery.png" alt="Picture1-Lithium Battery" width="602" height="417" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Picture1-Lithium-Battery.png 602w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Picture1-Lithium-Battery-300x208.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Picture1-Lithium-Battery-600x416.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px" /></a></p>
<p>In another experiment, researchers at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science &amp; Technology <a href="https://mercomindia.com/researchers-find-a-way-next-generation-lithium-batteries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed</a> a new electrolyte technology through magnetic nanoparticles to solve issues related to dendrite growth on the anode surface of lithium batteries.</p>
<p>In September 2021, scientists at the Nanyang Technological University claimed to have <a href="https://mercomindia.com/new-technology-prevent-fires-lithium-ion-batteries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invented</a> a battery component that provides an additional protection layer to prevent short circuits in lithium-ion batteries that are the primary cause for such batteries catching fire. The experts said that the anti-short layer developed by them can be easily added inside the Li-ion batteries to prevent short circuits while the battery is charging.</p>


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