Dedicated cold-climate field laboratory for photovoltaic system and component studies: the Michigan Regional Test Center as a case study

Snow and ice accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels is a recognized—but poorly quantified—contributor to PV performance, not only in geographic areas that see persistent snow in winter but also at lower latitudes, where frozen precipitation and “snowmageddon” events can wreak havoc with the solar infrastructure. In addition, research on the impact of snow and cold on PV systems has not kept pace with the proliferation of new technologies, the rapid deployment of PV in northern latitudes, and experiences with long-term field performance. This paper describes the value of a dedicated outdoor research facility for longitudinal performance and reliability studies of emerging technologies in cold climates.