Testing the Technology

The ability to accurately characterize a Photovoltaic (PV) product is critical at every level of system development. The characterization of systems and devices allows research teams and product development groups to not only map the progress of their own technology but also compare it to that of their competitors. Access to state of the art testing equipment thus allows these teams to make effective design decisions and to form sound business strategies. This report will identify and review important testing capabilities as well as the equipment and facilities necessary for PV characterization throughout the development process during: Cell Design and Optimization Module/Panel Performance, Reliability & Qualification Testing Overall System Performance and Monitoring Most testing during cell design and optimization as well as that done during reliability testing is considered indoor testing. There exist a few groups around the world that specialize in PV testing which have nearly all of the capabilities mentioned in this report among others in house, but this is not common. Usually, these equipment and resources are shared between a number of test suites each of which specialize in a particular type of testing. Test suites for outdoor testing intended to characterize overall system performance are similar in that the equipment required is chosen depending on the technology and the system under investigation; any given facility may not require all of the instruments that will be discussed presently. Testing the Technology September 30, 2010 Necessary Capabilities for measuring PV Performance SUNLab: Solar Cells and Nanostructured Devices Laboratory iii Table of