Optimizers do generate some heat though the PV surface is generally much hotter.
I suspect the majority if the difference in this location is due to the optimizer blocking some of the air flow (you you surmise).
They generally are mounted flat side up, leaving more room between the optimizer and the back surface of the modules though I have seen them mounted with the electronics up. This is not always possible due to the thickness of the module frame but is generally a bad idea. It is also one of the bad things about smart PV modules, the optimizers or micro inverters are directly attached to the back of the pv module, more directly increasing temps.
I suspect the majority if the difference in this location is due to the optimizer blocking some of the air flow (you you surmise).
They generally are mounted flat side up, leaving more room between the optimizer and the back surface of the modules though I have seen them mounted with the electronics up. This is not always possible due to the thickness of the module frame but is generally a bad idea. It is also one of the bad things about smart PV modules, the optimizers or micro inverters are directly attached to the back of the pv module, more directly increasing temps.
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