Live ticker for Reliable PV Module Design conference Day 2

TaiyangNews will be back with a yet another interesting conference on November 19, 2024 titled Inverters & Battery Storage Conference Technology & Application Trends for the Brain & Mitochondria of Latest Solar Power Systems. Free registrations are already open here.

Day 2 of the TaiyangNews Reliable PV Module Design 2024 Conference wrapped up with panelists pointing out the growth and updation of solar PV technologies. These are growing so rapidly that government-funded research institutes are not equipped fast enough to keep up with the changes to test newer technologies as soon as they appear on the horizon. Hence the reliability concerns. 

CEA’s Director QA and Engineering Services, Jörg Althaus presents case studies to show the concern areas for solar module reliability, dividing these into 3 broad categories of junction box soldering, cold soldering on cells, and glass breakage. If not dealt with soon, these can negatively impact project returns, he cautions.

Thanks to EV, the use of carports is expanding, however carports are expensive in terms of system and construction. The key, said the Technical Director of AESolar Dr. Hamed Hanifi, to achieve faster returns on the investment is to use highly reliable module products while presenting the company’s own Horizon panels for this segment. 

Stephen Tang of Hangzhou First listed high degradation under damp heat for TOPCon, and moisture sensitivity for HJT as some of the major challenges for module reliability. He also recommends various packaging solutions for both G2G and G2B options that help improve their reliability. 

GCL-SI uses 24 robots in its production processes and is now also integrating AI systems into manufacturing processes to ensure high-quality products, according to Rojen Malachi, the company's Technical Support Director Europe who said this integration contributes to the reliability and performance of its solar modules. With advancements in this space, Malachi said one can expect even more innovative applications in the solar industry in the future.

Dante Zeng shares LONGi's Hi-MO X10 modules, featuring HPBC 2.0 cells and TaiRay wafers, claiming that these new super high-efficiency back contact cells and thicker wafers, in combination with module design updates, help reduce power loss, while lowering operating temperatures, and enhancing mechanical strength. The cell passivation improvements significantly reduce UV damage and current loss.

Fraunhofer ISE’s Ingrid Haedrich pointed out that almost all of the modules the German institute checked last year had less power than stated on the label by respective manufacturers. Average deviation of tested modules was -1.3%. This, she said, is one of the biggest concerning issues at present for which Fraunhofer ISE plans to create more awareness.

TaiyangNews Managing Director opens day 2 conference with a recap of day 1 as presenters shared details of the technological progress they focus on while ensuring reliable module products in the face of pricing pressures. Testing and research firms said immense scope to do even more as technological innovations continue unabated. 

After an insightful day 1, the TaiyangNews Reliable PV Module Design 2024 Conference enters day 2 with an interesting line up of presenters from Fraunhofer ISE, LONGi, GCL-SI, Hangzhou First and AE Solar.

Panelists on day 1 of the TaiyangNews Reliable PV Module Design 2024 Conference hailed testing and resultant data as the key to building module reliability. However, the industry cannot completely rely on this as cell technologies change rapidly with various manufacturers optimizing these on their own thus bringing in various variables. 

Even as the world doubles down on bifacial solar modules, Silvana Ovaitt from NREL presented field test results to show that bifacial degrades generally faster than monofacial modules, thus impacting overall project economics. 

Sharing some UVID testing results, Kiwa PVEL’s Tristan Erion Lorico revealed susceptibilities in HJT and unexpectedly higher degradation in PERC. He added that the mechanisms behind UVID-induced degradation are not yet fully understood, and research is ongoing to address these issues.

Endurans’ Imco Goudswaard said that the severe price pressure and increasing requirements on modules and components are leading to the protection of PET core layer being compromised, thus impacting module reliability. He claimed 3% more power yield with the use of its HP transparent backsheet solution for bifacial modules.

MoNo 2 cell of JTPV deposits a passivation film on half-cut cell edges to recover from laser damage and provide passivation. Dr. Xinrui An said an increase of up to 6W is possible with HEP for standard 182-72 modules with MoNo2. 

Sibin Yang of Astronergy at @TaiyangNews Reliable PV Module conference listed the benefits of Atomic Layer Deposition technology to improve module reliability. While plate ALD provides uniform coating and is especially suited for large-scale production even though costly, tube ALD is better suited for small-scale production.  

JA Solar’s Ignacio Espinosa said his company prioritizes reliability even in the face of cost pressures, with 100% in-house inspections to meet high standards.

While manufacturers are under dramatic cost pressure, JA Solar said it is not compromising on quality as it considers Reliablity to be key. It rather looks on improving the bill of materials by strengthening materials and with lower cost solutions (e.g. 0BB, new frames). 

kiwa PI Berlin's head Steven Xuereb shows in TaiyangNews Solar Module Reliablity event that only 10% (!) of modules tested in 2022-23 passed pre-shipment checks without finding any defects.

Shravan Chunduri opens TaiyangNews Reliable Solar PV Module Design 2024 Conference. Introducing the topic of discussion today, he wonders if the impacts of the huge cost pressure that companies face today, can these have a direct impact on the reliability of modules? Food for thought, isn’t it? Let’s find out. 

Moderated by TaiyangNews’ Shravan Chunduri, the panel discussion on day 1, TaiyangNews Reliable Solar PV Module Design 2024 Conference has Ignacio Espinosa of JA Solar, Imco Goudswaard of Endurans, Steven Xuereb of Kiwa PI Berlin, and Tristan Erion-Lorico of Kiwa PVEL. They will share perspectives on if the solar module testing framework as it exists today is good enough to guarantee long-term reliability of solar modules? You wouldn’t want to miss this! Register

The 2-day TaiyangNews Reliable Solar PV Module Design 2024 Conference is bringing together speakers from various walks of the solar PV industry, including manufacturing, materials innovation, and of course testing fields. Today’s participants include Kiwa PI Berlin, JA Solar, Astronergy, JTPV, Endurance Solar, Kiwa PVEL, and NREL.