A GLOBAL APPROACH TO MODULE CERTIFICATION

Transcription

1 A GLOBAL APPROACH TO MODULE CERTIFICATION Presented By: Saranpal Rai Sunny Program Director Photovoltaic & Semiconductor Tel: SMET Advance PV Technology Conference InterSolar Munich, Germany May 28, 2009

2 Intertek Testing Services > Publicly Traded on London Stock Exchange since 2002 > ITRK, Part of Support Services Sector FTSE 100 > 2008 revenue - $1.8 Billion > More than 2,000,000 annual tests, inspections, certifications > Billions of products globally feature our certification marks > Market access to 195 countries on 6 continents > 89 Product Safety, Performance and EMC laboratories, globally > NRTL in the United States > Notified & Competent Body in the European Union > Fully accredited and Facilitiezed PV Module Testing Laboratories in > Orange County, California > Shanghai, China

3 Global Network: Intertek Group

4 Agenda Global Certification Standards Safety Performance Regional Certification requirements US, Europe & Asia Certification Challenges Control your destiny Data acceptance programs Summary

5 Global Standards US Certifications UL Standard for Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels UL Standard for Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use With Distributed Energy Resources UL Standard for Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings UL PV Concentrator Requirements Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) Module Requirements (Under Development)

6 Global Standards IEC Standards, European Certifications IEC 61730, Photovoltaic module safety qualification Part 1: Requirements for construction Part 2: Requirements for testing IEC 61215, Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Design Qualification and Type Approval IEC 61646, Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules Design qualification and type approval IEC 61218, Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules and assemblies Design qualification and type approval IEC X, PV Devices measurement procedures and requirements

7 Module Component Standards PV Connector Requirements PV Junction Box Requirements PV Combiner Box Requirements PV Polymeric Material Requirements Substrates (published) Encapsulants Adhesives Sealants Frames

8 Regional Certification Requirements United States Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Listing ETL, UL, etc. Individual State requirements California Energy Commission (CEC) ETL, ASU, FSEC etc. Florida Building related Other forthcoming European Union CE Marking (Regulatory) Market Driven Requirements Performance Testing to IEC Standards

9 Certification Challenges Time to Market Lengthy test requirements Long wait at Testing Laboratories Non-harmonized test procedures between Labs Region specific certification requirements Technology Limiting Standard development lags technology Small pool of experts & test laboratories Modifications & technology advancements Component Certifications

10 Overcoming Certification Challenges Internationally Accredited Laboratories Multiple accreditation & Test Locations US, Europe & Asia Participants in the CB Scheme Data acceptable by other CBTLs Globally Commercial organization Value time to market Take Advantage of the overlap Test Plan to combine Safety & Performance requirements Perform US & European certifications concurrently

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12 Overcoming Certification Challenges Retest guidelines IEC published retest guidelines Test for changes only Industry Experts Designers and Manufacturers Data acceptance Programs (Satellite Program) Set up your own labs Perform your own testing Get into an accredited Test Labs DAP Manage your Time to Market

13 Retest Guidelines - Example TEST IEC METHOD from IEC method from or US equivalent from UL 1703 Change in Cell Technology Hot Spot Test (MST 22) Hot Spot Endurance (same 10.9) Hot Spot Endurance Reverse Current Overload (MST 26) CL 28 Temperature Test (MST 21) CL 19 Thermal Cycling 200 cycles, SEQ Damp heat SEQ Outdoor Exposure 10.8

14 Summary Start Early Perform Design reviews with testing laboratories Select certified components Identify all target markets Select Laboratory with all Necessary accreditations Develop Tests Plan to take advantage of overlap Safety Vs Performance Between Regional requirements Use all available programs CB Scheme Data acceptance Programs (i.e. Satellite)

15 Thank You! Saranpal Rai Sunny Program Director Photovoltaic & Semiconductor Intertek 1365 Adams Court Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA Tel: