Latest test: 40% of components have this problem!
In its sixth edition of the annual PV Module Index report, RETC (a member of the VDE Group) stated: “Without immediate and concerted action, UVID has the potential to become a significant reliability issue for industry stakeholders.”
According to RETC’s standards, any maximum power degradation greater than or equal to 5% is considered a red light result, and some test results showed that modules used outdoors experienced power degradation ranging from 10% to 16% during the first three years of field operation, with some modules experiencing power losses as high as double digits.
According to the report, these double-digit power losses are far beyond the limits allowed by the PV module warranty terms and PV system power guarantees.
In its 2022 report, the company has noted issues with UVID, especially in newer cell technologies, including tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells. In this edition of the report, the study points to “reasons for concern.”
While 40% of the modules tested showed warning signs, the same number (40%) met RETC’s UVID high performance standard. To meet this standard, modules must be able to achieve a maximum power degradation of less than 2% under UV220 irradiation.
“Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, companies have announced investments of nearly $17 billion to add and expand solar manufacturing capacity in the U.S.,” said Cherif Kedir, president and CEO of RETC.
Given the unprecedented expansion of the world’s second-largest solar market, industry stakeholders must remain vigilant to the technical risks inherent in supply chain diversification and the accelerated timeframe between innovation and mass production.”
8% of tested modules earn “Overall Highest Achievers”
The bank performance testing conducted by RETC follows 14 test sequences, including damp heat testing, UVID testing, hail durability testing, and thermal cycling testing, and collects data based on three categories: module reliability, performance, and quality.
Across the 14 test categories, 23 module manufacturers were recognized as having excellent performance in some way. Overall, 8% of tested modules earned RETC’s highest honor, “Overall Highest Achievers.” And 14% of tested modules showed some kind of warning signs.trina solar panels