Solar Lattice

Metric

Performance loss rate

ID
metric:performance-loss-rate
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/metric/performance-loss-rate
Status
active
Also known as
PLR
Category
Performance

Performance loss rate tracks how the performance of a PV module or a whole PV system changes over time, using a chosen performance metric such as an electrical or empirical metric. It is worked out from time series data, preferably DC power readings, with AC power used when DC is not available, and it should use at least two years of historical data. The steps are: check the quality of the raw data, filter out anomalies and non-representative points, pick a performance metric such as performance ratio or a predicted-power model, apply an optional temperature correction, aggregate to days, weeks, months or years, then fit a trend against time. A linear model is fitted between time and the metric. The relative PLR is the slope coefficient divided by the intercept, scaled to a yearly basis by the number of periods per year, such as 12 for monthly or 52 for weekly data. Relative PLR is reported in percent per year. An absolute PLR is also defined, in units of the metric per year, and should be reported together with the intercept. A single linear rate is the simplest way to report it, but field systems often degrade non-linearly, so a change-point segmented regression can report the change-point time and a separate linear rate for each segment. When performance ratio is the metric, its temperature correction should follow IEC 61724-1:2017.

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