Most photovoltaic modules consist of photovoltaic cells encapsulated in ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The EVA contains UV absorbers, which protect EVA from hydrolysis caused by the UV rays of sunlight during solar power generation, but the UV absorbers themselves are gradually degraded by the UV rays of sunlight.
This paper describes a method for nondestructively measuring the amount of UV absorbent remaining in the EVA in photovoltaic modules and estimating the remaining lifetime of photovoltaic modules currently in operation at power plants.
