Recording of Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | The smarter E Europe | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 17:27 .

International Energy Agency Outlines Strategies to Enhance Resilience of PV Power Plants Amid Escalating Extreme Weather Events

In this talk, the speaker from the International Energy Agency (IEA) discusses their work on ensuring photovoltaic (PV) power plants are resilient against climate change. The presentation is divided into four segments: the necessity of IEA's work for global energy transition, resilience needs of PV plants amidst climate change, types and mitigation of extreme weather events threatening PV systems, and recommendations. The IEA was founded in 1993 to reduce global energy production impacts and collaborates internationally across over 25 countries. Their initiatives focus on applying photovoltaic technology to electricity generation through nine operational research tasks involving more than 340 experts. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves, hailstorms, snow blizzards, dust storms, and floods pose significant threats to PV systems by reducing yield or causing complete destruction. Mitigation strategies discussed include improved design features like robust fasteners for wind resistance; smaller modules with thicker glass for hail protection; high tilt angles and frameless designs for snow management; regular cleaning regimes for dust control; strategic site selection; elevated system installations; among others. These considerations aim at long-term data analysis to develop best practices that ensure robustness and resiliency of power plants against severe weather phenomena globally.

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Speaker

Ulrike Jahn
Senior Scientist
Fraunhofer Center for Silicon-Photovoltaics CSP
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

Addressing the Gigantic Potential of Re-Vamping & Re-Powering of Solar Power Plants

Speaker

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

To Talk