From Lab To Space: Xenon And LED-Based PV Characterization Platforms

Key takeaways:

• Avalon’s laboratory platforms include both full-size module and compact cell characterization systems

• Mobile Lab integrates IV testing with electroluminescence imaging for on-site module evaluation

• HighLIGHT SMT AM0 extends the portfolio to photovoltaic characterization for space applications

Following the acquisition of Pasan SA, Avalon presented an expanded portfolio of PV characterization products at SNEC Shanghai and Intersolar Europe 2026. The showcase comprised products from both companies spanning laboratory research, production-line quality control, field/mobile testing, and space PV characterization equipment.

These products are based on Pasan’s HighLIGHT xenon-based solar simulators and Avalon’s Nexun LED-based platforms. The products address different stages of PV testing from laboratory characterization to inline product inspection and on-site module evaluation.

For laboratory applications, the company presented 2 complementary products. The first, Nexun Mini-Lab, is a compact desktop IV characterization intended for cells, mini-modules, and materials research. This platform employs an LED light engine and is available in 3 configurations: dual mode, perovskite, and Cosmo. Dual mode supports steady-state and pulsed measurements; perovskite mode is optimized for continuous illumination and perovskite characterization; Cosmo is designed with AM0 spectrum using the Cosmo light source for multi-junction and space applications.

The second lab-scale tool is HighLIGHT 100 ms Lab, designed for full-size module characterization. This simulator uses a xenon light source with a 100 ms pulse plateau. It is specified as an A+A+A++ optical class, and its irradiance ranges from 70 W/m² to 1,300 W/m². The platform supports all kinds of mainstream commercial modules. The xenon tubes are engineered to last a guaranteed 80,000 flashes without failure.

For field inspection, Avalon offers the Nexun Mobile Lab. This platform uses a continuous spectrum with 17 wideband LEDs and operates at an illumination irradiance of 200 W/m² to 1,100 W/m², with a pulse duration between 50 ms and 250 ms. The mobile lab is intended for applications such as quality assurance, warranty verification, damage assessment, and decommissioning decisions. A key feature of this platform is its electroluminescence (EL) imaging capability, which supports the quality assessments mentioned above. According to Avalon, this mobile lab can test over 60 modules per hour.

Beyond terrestrial PV, the company offers HighLIGHT SMT AM0, designed for PV arrays used in space applications. The system uses xenon flash lamps covering 300-1,900 nm. Depending on the configuration, the illuminated area can reach up to 2.8 x 2.8 m. The simulator operates at a standard light intensity of 1,367 W/m², with a 12 ms pulse plateau, and employs the DragonBack and SmartSweep measurement methods.