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Title: Reliability Testing Beyond Qualification as a Key Component in Photovoltaic's Progress Toward Grid Parity: Preprint

Abstract

This paper discusses why it is necessary for new lower cost PV modules to be tested using a reliability test sequence that goes beyond the Qualification test sequence now utilized for modules. Today most PV modules are warranted for 25 years, but the Qualification Test Sequence does not test for 25-year life. There is no accepted test protocol to validate a 25-year lifetime. This paper recommendsthe use of long term accelerated testing to compare now designs directly with older designs that have achieved long lifetimes in outdoor exposure. If the new designs do as well or better than the older ones, then it is likely that they will survive an equivalent length of time in the field.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1006252
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-5200-50599
TRN: US201105%%916
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: To be presented at the IEEE International Reliability Physics Symposium, 10-14 April 2011, Monterey, California
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 42 ENGINEERING; LIFETIME; OUTDOORS; PARITY; PHYSICS; RELIABILITY; TESTING; photovoltaic module reliability; reliability testing; qualification testing; levelized cost of electricity; LCOE; grid parity

Citation Formats

Wohlgemuth, J H, and Kurtz, S. Reliability Testing Beyond Qualification as a Key Component in Photovoltaic's Progress Toward Grid Parity: Preprint. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1109/IRPS.2011.5784534.
Wohlgemuth, J H, & Kurtz, S. Reliability Testing Beyond Qualification as a Key Component in Photovoltaic's Progress Toward Grid Parity: Preprint. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/IRPS.2011.5784534
Wohlgemuth, J H, and Kurtz, S. 2011. "Reliability Testing Beyond Qualification as a Key Component in Photovoltaic's Progress Toward Grid Parity: Preprint". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/IRPS.2011.5784534. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1006252.
@article{osti_1006252,
title = {Reliability Testing Beyond Qualification as a Key Component in Photovoltaic's Progress Toward Grid Parity: Preprint},
author = {Wohlgemuth, J H and Kurtz, S},
abstractNote = {This paper discusses why it is necessary for new lower cost PV modules to be tested using a reliability test sequence that goes beyond the Qualification test sequence now utilized for modules. Today most PV modules are warranted for 25 years, but the Qualification Test Sequence does not test for 25-year life. There is no accepted test protocol to validate a 25-year lifetime. This paper recommendsthe use of long term accelerated testing to compare now designs directly with older designs that have achieved long lifetimes in outdoor exposure. If the new designs do as well or better than the older ones, then it is likely that they will survive an equivalent length of time in the field.},
doi = {10.1109/IRPS.2011.5784534},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1006252}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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