Premium

Quality assurance for PV modules: experience from type approval testing

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

By Jörg Althaus, Bussines Field Manager for Renewable Energy, TÜV Rheindland Immissionsschutz und Energiesystem GmbH

Photovoltaic modules and components, due to the nature of their employment, must be designed to withstand the most diverse of environments. The large spectrum of climatic conditions and mechanical stresses that these components must weather merit the application of some standards by which they can be tested for durability, reliability and safety. TÜV Rheinland operates several ISO 17025-accredited laboratories worldwide for type approval testing of flat plate as well as concentrating PV modules, PV components and solar thermal systems. Test data, collected over the past 20 years, shows that there is still a rather high failure rate when it comes to testing of PV modules, and also that there are different failure mechanisms for crystalline and thin-film PV modules. This paper presents data from these tests and draws some conclusions regarding the need for future standards development.

Published In

Premium
The third edition of Photovoltaics International was published in February 2009. In Thin films we offer Heliovolt enabling rapid printing of microscale CIGS films, and Q-Cells presents requirements for improving diffusion techniques for higher efficiency solar cells in Cell Processing. In Market Watch, we discuss how the USA Stimulus Bill will benefit you.

Read Next

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 10, 2024
Dallas, Texas USA
Solar Media Events
April 17, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
May 1, 2024
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2024
Napa, USA