The formation of acetic acid is found to be the predominant factor causing yellow discoloration [2,3]. Studies have been conducted by Fraunhofer and other R&D labs on solar modules with EVA encapsulant which have shown yellowing.
For example, certain chemicals used to treat the glass panels react with chemicals used in the silicon cells, resulting in the formation of acetic acid, which is one of the leading causes of discoloration. However, there is an even more common cause of solar panel discoloration – exposure to sunlight.
The acetic acid released during the chemical reaction that lead to yellowing may cause corrosion in the solar panel, but is argued to be an unlikely mechanism for power loss in a yellow solar panel.
Solar panel discoloration is very noticeable, with the formerly white portions across the surface of the cell turning into a yellow or brown color, and it tends to happen just a few years after installation.
These cookies measure the conversion rate of ads presented to the user. Yellow solar panels: do they perform poorly, or just look bad? “Yellowing” of PV modules is defined as the optical degradation of the ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) where the clear encapsulant becomes visibly yellow or even brown.
For decades, photovoltaic (PV) module yellowing caused by UV exposure has been observed on solar arrays in operation. More than an aesthetic inconvenience, this phenomenon can severely impair module performance and promote other degradation mechanisms by undermining the photoprotection provided by encapsulation.