News on PV module testing at LEEE-TISO

Abstract

In order to examine the quality and reliability of the on the market most sold modules, since 1993 the LEEE-TISO testing centre carried out systematic tests under real operating conditions. Project planners, designer and installers have the possibility to compare modules in real operating conditions in a continuously growing market proposing several new products every year. Many changes were made at the LEEE-TISO test procedures and in the measurement equipment in order to satisfy the always higher power of new modules. The news will be presented together with the results of initial indoor performance measurements and c-Si initial power degradation. The main innovation concerns the development of a power (MPPT) and measurement unit, with RS485 network, data loggers and a master PC unit. In particular, the new MPPT - developed by LEEE -- includes several enhanced features, like wider voltage and current ranges, a settable I-V tracer, timer functions and a built-in data acquisition system. A new outdoor test cycle (10) started in March 2006 at LEEE with two different procedures for crystalline silicon and thin- film technologies. Fourteen different module types have been chosen: 8 mc-Si, 2 sc-Si, 1 HIT, 2 a-Si and 1 CdTe