Evaluation of Photovoltaic Panels at the South Pole Station

For this study, commercially available photovoltaic PV panels of similar mechanical and electrical characteristics were procured from four manufacturers, and their structural survivability and electrical performance were evaluated in the extreme harsh environment of the South Pole, on the rooftop of the newly constructed Atmospheric Research Observatory ARO. The PV panels were installed for 410 days. During that time, they were exposed to varying amounts of inclement weather. Temperatures ranged from a low of -70 to a high of -20 deg C, with average wind speeds of approximately 5 msec, gusting to 20 msec. Prior to removal, each PV panel was inspected to see if the harsh environment degraded the structural characteristics of the panel frame, glazing, panel backing, and junction box. The inspection showed that the PV panels had not noticeably degraded during the 410-day exposure. The electrical performance of the PV panels depended on two factors sun angle and visibility. On days with cloud cover or windblown snow, the PV panels output power was reduced significantly. With sun angles approaching the highest limits and visibility being high, the PV panels approached their rated output power.