Solar Lattice

Measurement

Lower EL intensity distribution

ID
meas:el-intensity-shift
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/meas/el-intensity-shift
Status
active

This signature is found by counting how many pixels in an EL image fall into each intensity range, then turning that histogram into a probability density function of EL intensity. In general, modules with higher power losses have their intensity distribution shifted toward lower EL intensities. The intensity distribution has not yet been clearly correlated with specific types of defect or cell damage, so the shift shows that power has been lost but not why. EL images are taken with the module in forward bias from a DC power supply, ideally in darkness. In the field this usually means at sunset or at night, or under a curtain. PID-p in an n-type TOPCon bifacial module showed a uniform and strong drop in luminescence compared with an undegraded module. The drop was seen at both Isc and 0.1 Isc and did not depend on the bias current. Mean substring EL intensity from aligned images can be tracked over time, for example during damp-heat exposure, as a quantitative measure of degradation.

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Claims

typical_power_loss

c1 verified · fact nominal 8.7 PERCENT

Conditions: Power loss of the first of two example PV modules whose EL intensity probability density functions were compared

Reported with a second module at 14.2 % loss; the module with the higher loss showed the shifted EL intensity distribution.

verified by: joshuahamsaverified on: 2026-10-20review note: support check: partial - The 8.7 % power loss module is stated, but the passages say the higher-loss module shifts (to lower intensities/right), and 'Lower EL intensity distribution' as a label for the 8.7 % module is not what the passages state; 'typical' is also a framing.; possible conflict with c2 (same source; check the conditions)

c2 verified · fact nominal 14.2 PERCENT

Conditions: Power loss of the second of two example PV modules whose EL intensity probability density functions were compared

The source text says higher-loss modules shift toward lower EL intensities, while the figure caption describes the shift as to the right.

verified by: joshuahamsaverified on: 2026-10-20review note: possible conflict with c1 (same source; check the conditions)

Referenced by

Data