CENER-SOLPVLAB - Accredited PV Module testing Lab

IEC Accredited PV Module testing Lab - development and application of specific protocols for characterization of photovoltaic devices based on organic or perovskites materials. New measurement proposals will be done as a modification of current available standards for mature technologies or directly custom made for accomplishing visiting researcher needs.

Equipment available for testing PV devices from individual cells up to 2mx2m modules are: flash solar simulator (Xenon and LED), continuous solar simulator, climatic chambers, UV weathering, combined temperature irradiation and humidity tests, hail impact, mechanical load, impulse voltage, Electroluminescence, Lock-in thermography, salt mist corrosion, EVA cross linking analysis, peel-off tests, optical characterization and spectral response. All the climatic tests can be performed at specific biasing conditions by adjusting the operating intensity/voltage through dedicated electronic power supplies. CENER has also the possibility of testing PV modules under real sun at outdoor facilities. The experimental PV field comprises several positions available for research purposes which includes fixed racks and trackers. The energy produced and other parameters of the investigated PV devices are continuously monitored using maximum power optimizers (MPPT ´s) at module level.

Apart from all the tests included in those standards and taking advantage of the experience gained through their application in many products of different technologies, degradation protocols based on accelerating aging tests ISOS (ISOS-D, ISOS-O, ISOS-L, ISOS-T and ISOS-LT) from Basic (level 1) to Advanced (level 3) combining humidity – temperature and radiation in climatic chambers and outdoor test can be implemented in order to study the degradation factors for new developments and emerging PV technologies. 

The accreditation scope according to “ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories” covers IEC standards for all PV technologies: IEC-61215-1(all subparts), IEC61215-2, IEC-61730-(1&2), IEC-62108, IECTS60804-1 (PID) and IEC TS 60904-13 (EL) and quality methodology is applied also to development activities.

Figure 1 Continuous sun simulator (up). Characterization of PV devices (down)

Figure 2 Stability testing of a PK device inside the climatic chamber (left) and spectral response equipment (right)

• Testing for performance and safety qualification of all PV module technologies: c-Si, thin film (Si based, CIGS, CdTe, OPV), CPV modules and other BOS components
• Testing for characterization and standard development of hybrid and organic based PV modules. All the ISOS protocols levels 1 to 3 for organic and perovskites. The lab has participated in two Round Robin tests inside EERA and Stablenextsol (COST) for perovskites.
• R&D and testing of new products with PV integrated
• PV modules characterization, analysis of defects and working conditions by means of imaging techniques (electroluminescence, lock-in thermography, etc.)
• Accelerating aging tests
• Tests corresponding to individual phases of the regulation and “made-to-measure” tests defined in order to assess prototypes or process modifications.
• Development of methodology for IV determination based on IEC TR 63228 ED1: Measurement protocols for photovoltaic devices based on organic, dye-sensitized or perovskite materials

• Details on access: Desk availability, and support for accommodation
• Number of days spent typically at the infrastructure for an experiment: 3 days
• Unit of access (how many user visits are expected): 9 user visits; preparatory work will be done based on a form to be filled with the description of project and telco. For safety reasons, the user will be accompanied by the technician in charge of the laboratory during his/her stay or limited time if it is an expert on the subject.
• Remarks on integration of users into the scheduling of the RI: The priority of use of laboratory is based on CENER needs. Scheduling will be done after those needs are covered.
• Access costs via unit costs (a), actual costs (b), or a combination (c): option “b”, actual costs.

Quality of scientific environment and user access: Technicians and researchers are used to R&D and very supportive. CENER´s ISO-17025 qualification requires service evaluation

• ETFE-MFM, Development of multi-functional and flexible modules to illuminate façades and its demonstration (FP7- ENERGY–2012 -2.1.2). Development, evaluation and demonstration of a BIPV element based on ETFE which includes LED illumination and photovoltaic energy generation.
• DEPHOTEX, Development of Photovoltaic textiles based on novel fibres (FP7-NMP-2007-4.0.2). CENER worked in the TCO development, Ti metallization and full characterization of the textile-based PV modules obtained.
• SOLAR-TRAIN, PV module lifetime forecast and evaluation (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016). The goal of this project is to develop novel, validated models for the service lifetime and energy prediction of PV modules and systems. CENER lead the Work Package related to the analysis of the PV module degradation modes.
• HESITSC, High Efficiency Silicon Based Tandem Solar Cell PV module (SOLAR-ERA.NET 2016- 2017). In this project, Swedish universities KTH-Royal Institute of Technology and Karlstad University, the Swedish start-up company Tandem Sun AB and CENER worked in developing a high efficiency c- Si based tandem solar cell (SiTSC) technology exploiting the innovative coherent III-V/Si heterojunction.
• AISOVOL, Solution for PV generation for its use as an alternative constructive material in edification (Spanish call: Retos Colaboracion 2019). The aim of the project is the experimental development, manufacturing and test of a lighter PV module, using plastic materials instead of glass.