Qualification Photovoltaic

Qualification and certification of photovoltaic modules

The test procedure contains two main aspects. Firstly at the accredited laboratory of TÃœV RBB tests are performed on selected test samples to verify that they are in accordance with the relevant standards and requirements. The available qualification procedures are explained in the following paragraphs. The test mark is issued for the application of selected test criteria. Which of the specified test criteria were applied is documented next to the test mark. Furthermore TÃœV experts perform periodic quality and production control at the manufacturing site(s). Through this it shall be ensured that all produced PV modules are manufactured with the same materials and processes and at the same quality level as the test samples tested at the laboratory.

Test criteria: Qualified, IEC 61215
Tests according to IEC 61215, "Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Design qualification and type approval"

The IEC 61215, respectively EN 61215, comprises 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 the following load groups:

• Sunlight incl. UV
• Climate (changing of climates, coldness, warmth, humidity)
• Mechanical load (hail, wind suction, wind pressure, snow)

The tests are judged to be passed, if after the qualification tests no major visual defects are detected and the output power has not or only slightly degraded from its initial value. The qualification certificate corresponding to IEC 61215 has gained acceptance in the past few years as the quality symbol for crystalline PV modules. Nowadays such a certificate is required for most national and international funding programs.
More information (pdf-file 109KB)

Test criteria: Qualified, IEC 61646 Tests according to IEC 61646, "Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Design qualification and type approval"

The IEC 61646 for thin-film PV modules is in many aspects identical to the international standard IEC 61215 for crystalline modules. The main difference between the two standards lays in the additional test procedures adapting to the special properties of thin-film technologies. These additional tests take the degradation behaviour of amorphous silicon due to temperature and irradiance exposure into account.
More information (pdf-file 109KB)

Test criteria: Safety tested, TUV-Spec 931/2.572.9
Tests for the electrical safety

The tests for the electrical safety mainly refer to personnel protection during the operation of PV-systems. IEC 60364-4-41, "Protection against electric shock" describes personnel safety measures for electrical systems. For photovoltaic systems it suggests total insulation, which requires a special insulation of the PV modules (according to Safety Class II) on the basis of the following requirements:

• Durability
• High dielectric strength
• Mechanical stability
• Sufficient insulation thickness and distances

The tests are judged to be passed, if after the mechanical load test no defects occur and during the electrical load tests the threshold values dependent on the system voltages are not exceeded. A prerequisite for passing the Safety Class II tests is a passed IEC 61215 resp. IEC 61646 qualification.
More information (pdf-file 58KB)

Test criteria: Power controlled
Controlled nominal power ratings

The aim of the qualification procedure for the specification of credible electrical power ratings is the convergence of manufacturers ratings to measurements from accredited laboratories (e.g. TÃœV RBB). This shall be reached by applying the following measures:

• Introduction/ qualification of calibration- and quality assurance procedures
• Establishment of direct relations between power measurements in the production line and national and international normals.
• Qualification of the measurement equipments (e.g. solar simulator)
• Regular calibrations and power measurements of PV modules from the production line at the accredited laboratory of TÃœV RBB.
• Consideration of the measurement uncertainties decrease through the above mentioned measures at the specification of over-all production tolerances. Agreement for the definition of credible power ratings.