The sun is the oldest and most effective energy power plant. The energy of solar radiation, which can be used in form of electricity, heat or chemical energy results from the electromagnetic radiation that is produced on the solar surface due to its temperature of 5500° C as a black-body radiation, it is ultimately based on nuclear fusion processes inside the sun.

Currently about 0.5% of primary energy demand is generated by solar plants. Germany is number 1 in the installed capacity in the field of photovoltaics. In this growing market the certification of photovoltaic systems is an important point to demonstrate compliance with international norms and requirements and to improve positioning in the market.

Our mission is to support the Photovoltaic Panel Producers in their panels’ certification activities.
Partner Laboratories qualified by TÜV InterCert GmbH – Group of TÜV Saarland are accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025 scheme: without this accreditation for example in France and Italy it is not allowed to receive public aids for the improvement of renewable energies.

Our services are test and certification of:

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IEC 61215 - IEC 61646

IEC 61215 standard “Crystalline silicium terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) Modules – Design qualification and type approval” and IEC 61646 “Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) Modules – Design qualification and type approval” includes the examination of all parameters which are responsible for the ageing of PV modules and describes the various qualification tests on the basis of the artificial load of the materials. In particular one differs between radiation testing, thermal testing and mechanical testing.

Both standards have a similar testing sequence and they differ only on the requirements for power degradation. In the IEC 61646 standard is included a further final investigation to evaluate the effect of power degradation due to light exposure (LID – Light Induced Degradation).

Tests performed during IEC 61215/IEC 61646 certification may be divided into several groups:

  • Artificial ageing: accelerated climatic test at different environmental conditions, intensive UV exposure, outdoor exposure
  • Mechanical stress: static mechanical load and suction, simulation of hail impact, robustness of connections
  • Fault conditions simulations: bypass diode test, hot-spot effect due to partial shadowing
  • Electrical characterization: NOCT determination, measure of performance at NOCT conditions and low irradiance, determination of temperature coefficients.

PASS CRITERIA

  • No visual defects before/after each test as defined in the relevant standards
  • IEC 61215: power output degradation lower than 5% after each test and lower than 8% after each sequence
  • IEC 61646: power output after final light soaking no less than 90% of the minimum value specified by the manufacturer
  • Resistance insulation for test 10.3 and 10.15 greater than 40 MW/m2

OTHER INFORMATION

  • After the testing according to IEC 61215/ IEC 61646 a TÜV type approval certificate is issued to state the conformity of the tested product to the relevant standards
  • This certificate has a validity of 5 years unless there are relevant changes on the IEC standards.
  • The certificate may contain the following models family, without need of additional tests:
    • tested model
    • all models with same number of cells but with power output +/-10% respect to the tested model
    • all models with less cells or smaller cells respect to the tested model, if they are assembled with exactly the same list of materials
  • During the period of validity of the certificate a factory inspection may be performed by a TÜV auditor to the manufacturing site.
  • The PV modules certification is valid for the tested modules with a defined list of materials (BOM). In the case any of these materials is changed it is required to extend the existing certification to qualify the new materials. The materials that are subject to retest are:
    •  cells
    • front glass (or generally any front cover material)
    • backsheet (or generally any rear cover material)
    • EVA (or generally any encapsulation material)
    • frame and sealant/adhesive
    • junction box, cables and connectors and sealant/adhesive/pottant
    • interconnection and soldering material.