Key takeaways:
Commissioned by Munich Re, ISC Konstanz performs third-party technical audits of solar cell manufacturing lines deployed worldwide
The audits assess manufacturing stability, process control, and compliance with standards such as ISO 9001 and IEC 61215
The assessment results support warranty insurance decisions and provide feedback for improving production quality
PV module line inspections are a common industry practice, and several quality assurance companies perform these audits. However, cell manufacturing audits have been quite limited. With more and more upstream manufacturing lines ramping up globally, process and product evaluation at the cell manufacturing level is increasingly important, especially in large-scale production facilities.
Munich Re, one of the world’s leading reinsurers, chose ISC Konstanz to perform technical audits of solar cell manufacturing lines. These audits serve as third-party assessments of cell manufacturing lines and product quality in accordance with ISO 9001 and IEC 61215. A broader checklist for technical due diligence includes evaluating manufacturing stability and process control, identifying risks, and offering feedback for cell line improvement. The assessment reports help Munich Re insure the warranties, which in turn help investors and stakeholders of PV power projects.
Jan Lossen, Senior Project Leader at ISC Konstanz, said, “Stringently controlled manufacturing processes are essential for ensuring the long-term performance of solar cells and modules deployed in power plants worldwide.”
ISC Konstanz has been playing an important role in the development and transfer of advanced n-type TOPCon and Back Contact (BC) technologies. Some of the recent partnerships include BC technology transfer to India’s Solex Energy and supporting another Indian cell manufacturer to achieve 25.5% TOPCon cell efficiency. The German research institute is now entering the cell manufacturing audit space to support Munich Re.
Lossen further adds that through its audits, ISC Konstanz helps identify strengths and areas for improvement in production lines and contributes to improving quality standards across the PV industry.
