Important criteria when purchasing photovoltaic modules

In Brazil, it is common to use the BloombergNEF Tier 1 Ranking as a criterion for determining the quality of a module, but did you know that this should not be the only criterion to be observed?

Bloomberg itself recommends that other quality and technical criteria be used in the module purchase decision, suggesting modules that have passed tests and independent laboratory certifications for example PVEL, RETC, UL, among others, which serve as a parameter for technical validation of products and verify whether the modules will perform as expected.

In this article we will talk about PVEL and RETC certifications.

The PVEL (PV Evolution Labs) is one of the solar industry's leading independent testing laboratories. According to which, for the 7th time, JA Solar was classified in 2022 as “Top Performer”.

PVEL carries out several tests and provides a Module Reliability Scorecard photovoltaics, that is, it tests and rates photovoltaic module manufacturers over a period of 18 months based on Product Qualification Program testing. This program encompasses several tests, including:

• Thermal Cycling (TC600) or Thermal cycle test;
• Damp Heat (DH200) or moist heat;
• Mechanical Stress Sequence (MSS) or Mechanical stress sequence;
• Potential induced degradation (PID) or Potential induced degradation;
• Light-induced degradation and Light-induced degradation and elevated temperature ((LID and LeTID);
• PAN file validation (used in PVSyst);
• Backsheet durability;
• Hail impact resistance.

To see the full PVEL report, visit www.modulescorecard.pvel.com

The RETC (Renewable Energy Test Center) is an independent American testing laboratory, a leader in photovoltaic products and batteries. On RETC certification, according to the report PV Module Index Report 2021 (or PVMI), JA Solar modules are recognized as “High Achiever”. JA Solar is recognized among the 5 best manufacturers in the world, meaning its products have excellent quality, reliability and performance.

The report summarizes the results of more than 12 months of testing, where we can highlight the main ones listed:

Reliability, the following tests are part of the reliability indicator:

• Damp Heat Test;
• Dynamic Mechanical Load Sequence: the dynamic mechanical load sequence;
• Thermal Cycle Test: the thermal cycle test;
• PID Resistance: the PID performance test.

Performance, the following tests are part of the performance indicator:

• Module Efficiency;
• PTC-to-STC Ratio;
• PAN File Characterization;
• LID Resistance;
• LeTID Resistance.

Quality, part of the quality indicator is the test

• Thresher Test (material list test alone);
• Hail Durability Test (HDT): in hail durability test.

To download the RETC report, go to retc-ca.com

Created in 2005, JA Solar is one of the leaders and is among the three largest manufacturers of photovoltaic modules in the world, with more than 1000 patents in the cells and modules segment, highly verticalized production (manufacturing ingots, wafers, cells and modules), with a production capacity of more than 50 GW per year and more than 100 GW shipped to date.

JA Solar's main focus is on the high quality of its products in order to optimize the performance of photovoltaic systems. For more details about these certifications and JA Solar products, see the JA Solar websites.