Improving Industry Standards For PV Module Testing

DuPont is helping lead the industry call to adopt new standards for PV module testing to help reduce solar panel degradation and backsheet failures.

PPE Backsheet, China- 4 years in a solar farm, high incidence of yellowing and bubbling.

PVDF Backsheet, China- bubbling over hotspot.

Polyester Backsheet, Spain- yellowing and cracking in 4 year old 2.3 MW field.

Polyamide Backsheet, China- microcracks in 1 year old field.

Polyamide Backsheet, China- same installation as #4 where microcracks evolved into large cracks 3 years later.

Polyamide Backsheet, Italy- a large crack tripped inverter.

Polyamide Backsheet- large cracks in sequential test of minimodule.

PPE Backsheet, China- inner layer yellowing.

(a) One sided PVDF Backsheet, China- inner layer yellowing.

(b) Tedlar® TPE Backsheet- no inner layer yellowing.

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The global demand for solar energy is surging, and to keep up with growth, the reliability of PV module installations must be preserved. Unfortunately, defects of solar panels in the field, stemming from the use of non field-proven materials, are not uncommon, even among systems in use less than five years.

Read more to learn about PV module failures their impact, and how DuPont is helping the industry overcome these issues through a focus on better materials and a new standard of testing.