Solar panel testing is key to assuring both the quality and safety of a module. Solar panels have a long lifespan: properly built and installed equipment should generate usable electricity for more than 25 years. Given the longevity of your investment, you want to make sure that any equipment at your facility will perform well and operate safely.

With solar becoming more and more popular each day, many states, local governments, and utility companies have come out with new mandates that require any solar equipment to hold specific certifications. The same holds true for some solar incentive programs; if you’re participating in a state-funded incentive program, don’t be surprised if they have certain testing or certification requirements for your chosen equipment. Techlab’s state-of-the-art PV testing center provides both safety and performance testing with the help of Class A+A+A+ Solar Simulator and Environmental Chamber having superior repeatability and reproducibility.

Visual inspection

The purpose is to detect any visual defects in the module that may cause a risk of reliability loss. Visual inspection is defined in IEC 61215-2 by MQT 01.   

Performance under Standard Test Conditions (STC) 

Solar modules are rated according to their performance under standard test conditions. It is therefore very important to confirm if the indicated performance has really been delivered. Different measurements can be used to determine the performance of the solar cell, such as the output power. The Techlab’s sun simulators exceed the limits of the highest-Class A+A+A+ of IEC standards.  

Performance at Low Irradiance 

Low Irradiance test is done under conditions that simulate low sun irradiance where several performance parameters, mainly Pmax (maximum Power) is measured to test and validate the parameters. This test simulates and tests the performance of solar modules at higher latitudes and during winter.  

Performance under Normal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT) 

NOCT conditions are an approach to mirror real-world conditions. It is applied to calculate the real available wattage of the PV Module on an average day and is a parameter that is required by a range of energy rating and output performance standards. It is also used for PV Module performance quality testing during mass production.  

Insulation measurement - Wet and Dry leakage current tests 

The insulation of solar modules is not only decisive for the operation, but it is relevant for safety. An insulation test is used to assess if the solar PV Module has adequate insulation between its electricity-conducting components and the module's frame or, in the case of a frameless panel, the outside world. The wet leakage current test is an electrical bearing test carried out to test the electrical isolation of the module's housing to ensure it can withstand moisture or wetness from outdoor conditions.  

Potential Induced Degradation (PID): 

PID test is done as a quality assurance test for manufactured modules to expect how they will perform over a long time in different conditions. Potential induced degradation, or the voltage-dependent aging of photovoltaic modules, is a type of power degradation that generally appears on the negative side of the module string and can affect almost any type of photovoltaic module. PID can have catastrophic consequences for module output power. The PID test includes a before and after assessment of module performance. The PID test will be done using the heat method in the Environment Chamber at Techlab. PID testing is considered a destructive test.  

Temperature Coefficient Test 

The temperature Coefficient Test is intended to determine the temperature coefficients of maximum power, short-circuit current, and open-circuit voltage from module measurements. The temperature of the solar PV module has a direct effect on its ability to generate electricity. This impact is reflected through the temperature coefficient, which is expressed as the percentage decrease in output for every 1-degree Celsius (°C) increase in temperature from 25°C.  

Energy Rating Test 

For the power rating measurements, the modules are characterized at different irradiance and temperature conditions. This accurate power rating measurements in accordance to the standard allows a comparison of the measured module type to other module types as well as to the current state of the art. Furthermore, power rating enables precise yield prediction for each location worldwide.