Fraunhofer ISE: Monocrystalline modules underperformed by 1.2% in 2024

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Fraunhofer ISE has tested 70,000 modules since 2012. Image: Fraunhofer ISE.

New research from German research organisation Fraunhofer ISE has found that in 2024 the average monocrystalline silicon PV module’s power output was 1.2% lower than its nameplate capacity.

While this is a slight improvement from the 1.3% discrepancy reported in 2023, it marks the eighth consecutive year that an average module’s power output has been less than its stated capacity. Fraunhofer has tested 70,000 modules from 15 top manufacturers in its laboratories since 2012, although the testing house noted that its data set excludes modules where laboratory power output matches the product’s nameplate capacity.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Since 2012, the average power output has largely fluctuated between 1% more than the nameplate capacity and 1% less, as shown in the graph below. While the 1.3% discrepancy reported in 2023 marks the lowest actual power output on record, Fraunhofer noted that the slight improvement in 2024 suggests manufacturers may be aware of this issue.

Fraunhofer ISE graph showing power output deviation from nameplate capacity.
Modules have produced less power than their nominal capacity since 2018. Source: Fraunhofer ISE.

“If we assume that our data is representative of the German installation market, an average underperformance of 1.2% with an additional 16.2GW in 2024 corresponds to a total output of around 195MW,” said Daniel Phillip, head of the Department Module Characterisation and Reliability at Fraunhofer, who added that this discrepancy corresponds to the nominal output of “one of the largest solar parks in Germany”.

While the researchers did not suggest a reason for this decline in real world output, the study follows a number of investigations of module efficiency and reliability, as solar projects come to account for a larger proportion of the world’s energy mix.

A Fraunhofer study published last year identified “critical degradation” issues in tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) modules, while Kiwa PI Berlin suggested earlier this year that modules manufactured in the US, India and Laos were among the most likely to have defects, suggesting module underperformance is affected by both technologies and regions.

The Fraunhofer researchers are presenting their 2024 module underperformance data at the 40th PV Symposium, which is currently underway in Bad Staffelstein, Germany.

2 December 2025
Málaga, Spain
Understanding PV module supply to the European market in 2026. PV ModuleTech Europe 2025 is a two-day conference that tackles these challenges directly, with an agenda that addresses all aspects of module supplier selection; product availability, technology offerings, traceability of supply-chain, factory auditing, module testing and reliability, and company bankability.
10 March 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

June 30, 2025
Eni subsidiary Plentiude has started operations at the northern block of its 330MW Renopool solar portfolio in Spain.
June 27, 2025
Statkraft has signed PPAs with Better Energy to purchase energy from two solar power plants in Poland with a total capacity of 64GWh.
June 27, 2025
PV Tech spoke to Monika Paplaczyk about recent changes in the UK energy mix and opportunities for investors in the solar sector.
Premium
June 27, 2025
PV Talk: '2024 was a transformational year in terms of energy policy,' says Monika Paplaczyk ahead of this year's Clean Power 2030 Summits.
Premium
June 26, 2025
Carlos Rodriguez, Oktoviano Gandhi and Sun Huixuan examine the energy yield performance of different FPV system configurations.
June 26, 2025
Nextracker will supply solar tracker systems to a 550MW solar PV project in the Greek province of Western Macedonia, owned by Greek renewables developer PPC Renewables.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico