Thermal impacts on wind-driven loads of solar PV modules*

Solar photovoltaic (PV) module life and performance can be negatively impacted by wind-driven structural loads. Characterizing and mitigating these wind-driven loads has become an active area of research, however, studies have not yet considered the influence of thermal conditions, which can vary temporally as ground, air, and module temperatures fluctuate. Using fluid-structure interaction simulations, we aim to quantify the sensitivity of PV module loads to the surrounding thermal conditions across a range of wind conditions. Findings are expected to inform PV plant operations to maximize module life and performance.