Diagnostic Methods of Photovoltaic Panels: Low-cost Electroluminescence

Currently, there is a rapid increase in the installed capacity of photovoltaic (PV) power plants around the world. However, with the increasing number of PV plants, it is necessary to keep in mind their safe and reliable operation. As photovoltaic panels gradually age, they degrade and develop various defects that can result in reduced performance or even shut down the plant. This causes financial losses. To detect these faults early, there are several diagnostic methods that allow early detection, thereby increasing the efficiency of the operation. The most commonly used methods of PV panel diagnostics are described in this paper. A major part of the text is devoted to electroluminescence. The main part deals with the easy modification of a commercial camera for the purpose to perform diagnostics in low-cost conditions.