Solar modules deployed in France in 1992 still provide 75.9% of original output power
New testing conducted at France’s oldest PV system have shown that its solar modules can still provide performance values in line with what the manufacturers promised.
French association Hespul was created in 1991 to set up the first photovoltaic plant connected to the national network in France. Following the inauguration of the Phébus 1 power plant on June 14, 1992 in Ain, Hespul decided to expand its activity to promote photovoltaics in France, which at the time was almost non-existent.
The association has now revealed that around 10 m2 of the panels, corresponding to around 1 kW, were dismantled from the system last year and submitted to a series of tests according to the international standards.
The panels were placed in a dark room at a controlled temperature and exposed to a light flash of 1000 W/m2 to measure their maximum instantaneous power. This value was then compared to their factory measurements.
The tests were enabled via a corporate sponsorship by the France-based certification body Certisolis and French solar specialist Isowatt, which carried out the flashing of the panels and the dismantling/reassembly, respectively .
