Abstract:
Photovoltaics technology actually makes the most sense in tropical regions where the sunlight intensity is maximum.
Yet traditional PV systems are mostly designed for the northern hemisphere markets, as these are the biggest
markets of solar PV systems currently. These PV systems are designed to withstand gusty winds, heavy snows and
severe hail impacts. This is thus largely an over design for use in tropical regions. At the same time, this design is
also not necessarily the most optimum for tropical regions with many islands, like Indonesia. Exposure to high-angle
sunlight onto the PV systems could lead to lower photon capture to the solar cells, while interactions of these
traditionally designed PV systems with extreme acid rains and heavy concentration of salt and minerals from seas
could lead to premature degradation of the polymer materials inside the PV system. This could in turn instigate
corrosion in the metallic interconnects which might then cause electrical shorts and charging/burning and possibly
even big fires. Some of our preliminary results on material research that are the pre-requisites of novel and
innovative PV system design for these unique regions will be presented
