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Title: Interim implementation structure for development of performance criteria and test standards for photovoltaic systems

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5624317· OSTI ID:5624317

This document presents an implementation structure for the near-term development of performance criteria and test methods for photovoltaic (PV) materials, components, subsystems, and systems. The approach is designed to be responsive to the Photovoltaic Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1978 (PL-95-590). The project is organized into four tasks: (1) establishment of performance criteria and the development of test methods; (2) development of laboratory accreditation/product certification guidelines; (3) development of validation methodologies; and (4) coordination of the quality assurance effort with consensus standards and code organizations. A schedule and milestones are presented for each task. The appendices provide a brief overview of standards and the standards development process. The philosophy behind this project is to develop industry- and user-established performance criteria, test methods, and accreditation procedures which may then be referred to independent consensus standards organizations for the preparation of consensus standards. The emphasis in execution of this approach will be to develop uniform, fair performance criteria and tests and to avoid rigid, prescriptive criteria. Photovoltaics is an emerging technology; criteria written now must be able to accommodate devices and techniques not yet developed.

Research Organization:
California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Jet Propulsion Lab. (JPL); Solar Energy Research Inst. (SERI), Golden, CO (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
EX-76-A-29-1012; EG-77-C-01-4042
OSTI ID:
5624317
Report Number(s):
DOE/JPL/1012-35
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English