From the Article
Over the past few decades, production of energy through the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology has increased. The past ten years have seen the largest growth in demand for PV modules, with a rate of 35% in 2010 and predicted rates of 20% or more through 2015.1 The majority of the PV market consists of silicon-based modules, most commonly constructed from crystalline silicon wafers.1 However, PV modules do not last forever; they have a life expectancy of about 30 years before they must be decommissioned.2 Failure of modules is often attributed to defects in the product, including “glass breakage, defect laminate, electrical defects, wrong designs, or process losses.”3