Recording of Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | The smarter E Europe 2024 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 24:53 .

Why Modernizing Solar PV Assets is Crucial: Addressing Degradation, Inverter Obsolescence, and New Business Opportunities in a Rapidly Evolving Industry

The context discusses the importance of modernizing or retrofitting solar photovoltaic (PV) assets, a process known as revamping and repowering. Tomaso Charlemont addresses how technological advancements have significantly evolved over the past 15 to 20 years, impacting existing PV modules and inverters. Older modules often used materials that weren’t tested for long-term durability, leading to issues like backsheet degradation which poses significant risks; studies highlight up to 10 gigawatts of potentially affected installations in Germany alone. Additionally, many early PV plants were hastily constructed to benefit from favorable feed-in tariffs without adequate expertise or quality control. Today’s asset owners are thus confronted with poorly performing systems alongside outdated inverters from manufacturers no longer in business—resulting in unserviceable components and halted energy production when failures occur. Modernization offers numerous benefits: contemporary components are more efficient, cost-effective, come with new warranties, and meet updated compliance standards both locally and internationally. This could include upgrading fixed systems to trackers or integrating energy storage solutions. As plants approach end-of-life stages commercially, retrofitting becomes an attractive option offering viable new business models rather than decommissioning old assets entirely.

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Speaker

Tomaso Charlemont
Head of PV Revamping / Repowering EMEA
BayWa r.e. AG
Germany

Talk of session: Utility-scale Solar Power III: Lifecycle & Quality - from Operations to Decommissioning & Re-powering

If designed and maintained well, solar systems can function for several decades. However, every PV power plant's life ends at some point - even if high-quality components have been used, whether because of age, financial feasibility or extreme weather events. The resulting waste streams need to be managed, but also generate a huge potential for repowering solar installations.

This session will provide:

• Overview of end-of-life management best practices
• Product quality control from fab to field
• Module reliability & performance
• Repowering solar power plants
• The impact of extreme weather on climate

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker

Adele Ara
Chief Technology Officer
Lightsource bp
UK

To Talk

Quality Control from Fab to Field

Speaker

Magnus Herz
Project Manager
TÜV Rheinland Energy GmbH
Germany

To Talk

Understanding the Latest in PV Module Performance and Reliability

Speaker

Sishir Garemella
Head of Interational Business Development
Kiwa PVEL
USA

To Talk

The Future of PV Systems in a World Increasingly Defined by Extreme Weather

Speaker

Ulrike Jahn
Senior Scientist
Fraunhofer Center for Silicon-Photovoltaics CSP
Germany

To Talk