Clone of The key to photovoltaic module efficiency: Exhaustive testing and quality standards.

 Standard or norm, it is not the same thing 

Our industrialized world is becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated. We use hundreds of products, which we cannot produce with our own hands. Therefore, we have to rely on the manufacturer's good work, with the aim of utilizing the product for as long as possible and without assuming any safety risk. 

To achieve this, we make use of an infinite list of standards and norms ... And practically all the products and services we use on a daily basis follow one guideline or another. In general, we consider standards those voluntary guidelines agreed upon by the group of people and institutions involved in using the product, while the application of norms is considered mandatory. 

The photovoltaic world also follows this system. For example, the Low Voltage Regulation is a regulation, which is compulsory for any photovoltaic installation < 1500V in Spain. In terms of standards, the most important for the sector are the IEC. 

IEC, the great photovoltaic watchdog 

The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a global NGO based in Geneva, Switzerland. Its mission is the constant development of standards. It encompasses 170 countries, and more than 20,000 experts work on its technical committees. Membership is open to countries, but not to companies or individuals. However, the latter can work in Technical Committees (TC), which exist for any product group. In Spain, the Technical Committee for photovoltaics is called "TC 82, Sistemas de energía solar fotovoltaico [Photovoltaic solar energy systems]".  Experts from the entire range of companies and institutions, from manufacturers to universities or distributors such as Amara Nzero, work on the committee, in connection with all the other international committees. Its sole objective: to develop standards to make photovoltaic components safer and more durable. 

The sale of modules that do not comply with these "internationally recognized standards" is not prohibited, but it is very rare to find a panel that does not comply with them. 

Parent standards 

There are a large number of IEC standards that apply to photovoltaic modules, but there are two that clearly stand out and fulfill basic functions: IEC 61215 and IEC 61730. It is not impossible, but very rare that a module does not meet these standards, as we usually confirm in the module datasheet and as we can see in the following image: 

IEC 61215 - the mother standard 

The goal of standard IEC 61215 is to pursue the module's durability. To this end, it provides for a series of tests that must be passed by samples a manufacturer sends to a recognized independent laboratory. After successfully submitting the modules to the tests described in the standard, the laboratory issues a certificate confirming this, which the manufacturer uses to demonstrate the good quality of its product. Here are detailed requirements such as the characteristics of the individual module label, assembly instructions, as well as a series of 19 different tests they have to pass. There is a broad range of tests: measurement of maximum power, outdoor exposure, humidity, heat or freezing, among others. Each assay is given an acronym beginning with MQT. For example, MQT 16 is a test of resistance against mechanical loads. Here we see how it works: