UV Exposure Varies by Location and Setup
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have developed a global model showing that ultraviolet (UV) radiation may reduce the lifespan of next-generation solar panels by up to 10 years. The study, published on 6 April 2026, highlights discrepancies between current testing standards and real-world conditions.
Dr Shukla Poddar, the study’s lead researcher, explained, “Our results highlight that modules with similar technology and orientation can still exhibit region-specific degradation, due to the influence of local weather and climate when exposed to outdoor conditions.”
The model calculates UV exposure based on climate, atmospheric conditions, and panel mounting, providing insights into long-term performance. It reveals that sun-tracking systems receive more UV radiation than fixed-tilt installations.
This research, supervised by Prof. Bram Hoex and A. Prof. Merlinde Kay, with contributions from Dr Phillip Hamer and Mr Shuo Liu, has been published in the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics. The study emphasises the need for climate-specific indoor testing and accelerated tests for better lifetime predictions of solar panels.
Implications for Testing Standards Current international
Standards require solar modules to pass a UV test equivalent to 15 kilowatt-hours per square meter. In regions such as Alice Springs, Australia, panels may receive this amount in just over a month, indicating a need for revised testing procedures. The modelling tool aids manufacturers and developers in assessing UV impact, suggesting that updated standards are crucial as high-efficiency technologies like TOPCon and heterojunction cells become more common.
These technologies, while capturing a broader portion of the solar spectrum including UV light, may face unintended consequences in regions with high UV exposure. According to the researchers, UV photodegradation alone can account for nearly a quarter of the total annual degradation in monocrystalline silicon modules in high UV dose regions, potentially reducing system lifetime by 7-10 years. This underscores the importance of adapting testing standards to real-world conditions.
Previously, there was no comprehensive way to estimate how much UV radiation a solar panel would experience at a given location, especially once panels are tilted or mounted on tracking systems. Most global UV data is measured on horizontal surfaces, which does not reflect actual installation conditions. Dr Poddar stated, “We’ve basically developed a method to quantify the amount of ultraviolet radiation based on different spectral wavelengths, and we’ve produced a global map that shows what you could expect depending on your location.” This map offers a holistic overview for manufacturers or developers who want to install panels somewhere, without needing to perform extensive background calculations themselves.
The model’s approach was validated using high-precision UV measuring instruments in Europe and was compared against long-term climate datasets, allowing for incorporation of local atmospheric conditions into the predictions. This groundbreaking work provides the first global-scale comparison of UV exposure for fixed-tilt and sun-tracking solar systems, offering the solar industry a new way to predict long-term performance and durability. Related Articles
Last updated: 7 April 2026, 2:36 pm
