BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 - Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules

Design Qualification and Type Approval Test Requirements

In the rapidly evolving world of renewable energy, ensuring the quality and reliability of photovoltaic (PV) modules is paramount. The BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 standard is a comprehensive guideline that sets the benchmark for the design qualification and type approval of terrestrial photovoltaic modules. Released on June 15, 2021, this standard is an essential resource for manufacturers, engineers, and quality assurance professionals in the solar energy sector.

Key Features of BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021

• Standard Number: BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021
• Pages: 54
• Release Date: June 15, 2021
• ISBN: 978 0 539 18100 5
• Status: Standard

Comprehensive Design Qualification

The BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 standard provides a detailed framework for the design qualification of PV modules. It ensures that the modules meet the necessary performance criteria under various environmental conditions. This includes tests for mechanical stability, thermal cycling, humidity freeze, and more. By adhering to these guidelines, manufacturers can guarantee that their products are robust and reliable, capable of withstanding the rigors of real-world applications.

Type Approval for Enhanced Reliability

Type approval is a critical aspect of the BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 standard. It involves a series of rigorous tests that PV modules must pass to be deemed suitable for use. These tests simulate the long-term effects of environmental exposure, ensuring that the modules maintain their performance over time. This process not only enhances the reliability of the modules but also boosts consumer confidence in the products.

Why Choose BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021?

Adopting the BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 standard offers numerous benefits:

• Quality Assurance: Ensures that PV modules meet high-quality standards, reducing the risk of failures and increasing the lifespan of the modules.
• Market Acceptance: Products that comply with this standard are more likely to be accepted in global markets, facilitating international trade and collaboration.
• Consumer Confidence: Provides assurance to consumers that the PV modules they purchase are tested and approved for safety and performance.
• Environmental Impact: Promotes the use of renewable energy by ensuring the reliability and efficiency of solar modules, contributing to a sustainable future.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 standard is indispensable for a wide range of professionals in the solar energy industry, including:

• Manufacturers: To ensure their products meet international quality and safety standards.
• Engineers: To design and develop PV modules that are efficient and reliable.
• Quality Assurance Professionals: To implement rigorous testing procedures and maintain high standards of product quality.
• Regulatory Bodies: To establish guidelines and regulations for the safe and effective use of PV modules.

Conclusion

The BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 standard is a vital tool for anyone involved in the design, manufacture, and testing of terrestrial photovoltaic modules. By providing a clear and comprehensive set of requirements for design qualification and type approval, it ensures that PV modules are safe, reliable, and efficient. Embracing this standard not only enhances product quality but also supports the growth and acceptance of solar energy as a key component of the global energy mix.

Invest in the future of renewable energy by aligning with the BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 standard, and be a part of the movement towards a cleaner, more sustainable world.

BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021

This standard BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules. Design qualification and type approval is classified in these ICS categories:

• 27.160 Solar energy engineering

This document lays down requirements for the design qualification of terrestrial photovoltaic modules suitable for long-term operation in open-air climates. The useful service life of modules so qualified will depend on their design, their environment and the conditions under which they are operated. Test results are not construed as a quantitative prediction of module lifetime.

In climates where 98th percentile operating temperatures exceed 70 °C, users are recommended to consider testing to higher temperature test conditions as described in IEC TS 63126. Users desiring qualification of PV products with lesser lifetime expectations are recommended to consider testing designed for PV in consumer electronics, as described in IEC TS 63163 (under development). Users wishing to gain confidence that the characteristics tested in IEC 61215 appear consistently in a manufactured product may wish to utilize IEC 62941 regarding quality systems in PV manufacturing.

This document is intended to apply to all terrestrial flat plate module materials such as crystalline silicon module types as well as thin-film modules. It does not apply to systems that are not long-term applications, such as flexible modules installed in awnings or tenting.

This document does not apply to modules used with concentrated sunlight although it may be utilized for low concentrator modules (1 to 3 suns). For low concentration modules, all tests are performed using the irradiance, current, voltage and power levels expected at the design concentration.

This document does not address the particularities of PV modules with integrated electronics. It may however be used as a basis for testing such PV modules.

The objective of this test sequence is to determine the electrical characteristics of the module and to show, as far as possible within reasonable constraints of cost and time, that the module is capable of withstanding prolonged exposure outdoors. Accelerated test conditions are empirically based on those necessary to reproduce selected observed field failures and are applied equally across module types. Acceleration factors may vary with product design, and thus not all degradation mechanisms may manifest. Further general information on accelerated test methods including definitions of terms may be found in IEC 62506.

Some long-term degradation mechanisms can only reasonably be detected via component testing, due to long times required to produce the failure and necessity of stress conditions that are expensive to produce over large areas. Component tests that have reached a sufficient level of maturity to set pass/fail criteria with high confidence are incorporated into the IEC 61215 series via addition to Table 1. In contrast, the tests procedures described in this series, in IEC 61215-2, are performed on modules.