By Dr Cordula Schmid, Fraunhofer CSE; Rubina Singh, Fraunhofer CSE; Cameron Stark, Fraunhofer CSE; Dr Jacqueline Ashmore, Fraunhofer CSE; Claudio Ferrara, Fraunhofer CSE; Sandor Stecklum, Fraunhofer CSE
Module performance | The potential for PV modules to fail before the end of their intended service life increases the perceived risk, and therefore the cost, of funding PV installations. While current IEC and UL certification testing standards for PV modules have helped to reduce the risk of early field (infant mortality) failures, they are by themselves insufficient for determining PV module service life. In this paper, teams from Fraunhofer CSE and Fraunhofer ISE present the results of the Fraunhofer PV Durability Initiative’s third round of testing, which now includes 10 module types.
