BS EN IEC 62788-1-7:2020 - Measurement Procedures for Photovoltaic Module Encapsulants

In the rapidly evolving world of renewable energy, ensuring the longevity and efficiency of photovoltaic modules is paramount. The BS EN IEC 62788-1-7:2020 standard provides a comprehensive framework for the measurement procedures of materials used in photovoltaic modules, specifically focusing on encapsulants and their optical durability. Released on June 18, 2020, this standard is an essential resource for professionals in the solar energy sector.

Key Features of the Standard

• Standard Number: BS EN IEC 62788-1-7:2020
• Pages: 20
• Release Date: 2020-06-18
• ISBN: 978 0 580 96222 6
• Status: Standard

Understanding the Importance of Encapsulants

Encapsulants play a critical role in the performance and durability of photovoltaic modules. They serve as protective layers that shield the photovoltaic cells from environmental factors such as moisture, dust, and mechanical stress. The optical properties of encapsulants are crucial as they directly affect the light transmission to the solar cells, thereby influencing the overall efficiency of the module.

Comprehensive Test Procedures

The BS EN IEC 62788-1-7:2020 standard outlines detailed test procedures to assess the optical durability of encapsulants. These procedures are designed to simulate real-world conditions and provide reliable data on how encapsulants will perform over time. By adhering to these standardized tests, manufacturers can ensure that their products meet the necessary quality and performance benchmarks.

Benefits of Using the Standard

Adopting the BS EN IEC 62788-1-7:2020 standard offers numerous benefits:

• Enhanced Product Quality: By following the standardized test procedures, manufacturers can improve the quality and reliability of their photovoltaic modules.
• Increased Efficiency: Ensuring the optical durability of encapsulants helps maintain high levels of light transmission, leading to better energy conversion rates.
• Long-term Durability: The standard helps in predicting the long-term performance of encapsulants, allowing for better product warranties and customer satisfaction.
• Compliance and Certification: Meeting the requirements of this standard can facilitate easier compliance with international regulations and certifications.

Who Should Use This Standard?

This standard is indispensable for a wide range of professionals in the solar energy industry, including:

• Photovoltaic Module Manufacturers: To ensure their products meet industry standards and perform optimally.
• Quality Assurance Teams: To implement rigorous testing protocols and maintain high product standards.
• Research and Development Engineers: To innovate and improve encapsulant materials and technologies.
• Regulatory Bodies: To establish benchmarks and guidelines for photovoltaic module performance and safety.

Conclusion

The BS EN IEC 62788-1-7:2020 standard is a vital tool for anyone involved in the design, manufacture, and testing of photovoltaic modules. By providing a clear and detailed framework for assessing the optical durability of encapsulants, this standard helps ensure that solar energy systems are efficient, reliable, and long-lasting. Embracing this standard not only enhances product quality but also supports the broader goal of advancing renewable energy technologies.

BS EN IEC 62788-1-7:2020

This standard BS EN IEC 62788-1-7:2020 Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules is classified in these ICS categories:

• 27.160 Solar energy engineering

IEC 61215-2 provides a set of qualification tests that indicate that a PV module design is likely to be free of flaws that will result in early failure. However, IEC 61215-2 does not address the long term wear-out of PV modules. This part of IEC 62788-1 is designed as a more rigorous qualification test, using accelerated UV exposure at elevated temperature to determine whether polymeric encapsulants can suffer loss of optical transmittance. IEC 61215-2 already includes a UV preconditioning test (MQT 10), however, the parameters for that test only represent a limited level of exposure (~weeks of UV dose). This test procedure is intended for representative coupon specimens, applying stress at a greater intensity (designed relative to Phoenix, AZ), using a radiation spectrum that is more similar to the terrestrial solar spectrum, and using a duration of exposure that is more relevant to the PV application (i.e., equivalent to several years of outdoor exposure). This test quantifies the degradation rate of encapsulants so that the risk of the materials losing optical transmittance during operation in the terrestrial environments can be managed. The quantitative correlation between climate (or location of use), a specific application (utility-installation, residential-installation, roof-mount, rack-mount, use of a tracker, the system electrical configuration and its operation), and the test can be established for each specific encapsulant material, but is beyond the scope of this document.

The method herein is intended to qualify encapsulants for use in a PV module. This document is intended to apply to encapsulants used in PV modules deployed under temperature conditions of normal use, as defined in IEC TS 63126. The use of this method for encapsulants in modules deployed under conditions of higher temperature is specified elsewhere, for example IEC TS 63126. The method here is intended to be used to examine a particular encapsulant and does not cover incompatibilities between the encapsulant and other packaging materials. This document covers PV technology constructed using a transparent incident surface/encapsulant/photovoltaic device construction, the relevance to other geometries where the encapsulant layer is located behind the photovoltaic device layer, is outside the scope of this document. In the case of bifacial cell technology, the module can accept light from its front and back surfaces – the transmittance of a frontsheet (if used), encapsulant, and transparent backsheet (if used) is relevant for both active surfaces. The optical durability of frontsheets and backsheets, however, is addressed separately in the IEC TS 62788-2. Thin coatings that might be added for antireflection or anti-soiling purposes are outside the scope of this document. The method in this document can be used for other purposes (e.g., research and development); many details of alternate uses of the method (e.g., alternate test durations or measurement increments) are not described here.