EVA LAMINATE BROWNING AFTER 5 YEARS IN A GRID-CONNECTED, MIRROR-ASSISTED, PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM IN THE NEGEV DESERT - EFFECT ON MODULE EFFICIENCY

Outdoor I-V curve measurements have been made on all 189 Solarex SX-14 6 modules that were operated for five years in a mirror-enhanced, grid -connected photovoltaic system in the Negev desert of Israel. The modu les have taken on a distinct yellow-brown coloration compared to their original ''blue'' appearance, a phenomenon that has been observed in systems in other parts of the world. Although no original performance figures are available for comparison purposes, some indirect measureme nts are reported which enable one to conclude that the power output of this ensemble of browned modules has probably degraded at an average rate of about 1% per year.