Photovoltaics Testing
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With the growing demand for energy, solar energy is fast becoming one of the most viable energy sources available. In order for Photovoltaic product manufacturers to quickly enter the global market, they must obtain certification from a third-party certification authority, proving their products' performance and safety characteristics.
As a leading global photovoltaics testing company, Alfa Chemistry offers a wide array of capabilities and testing services for photovoltaics. From photovoltaic (PV) modules to custom testing, Alfa Chemistry provides incredible service and credible results. Alfa Chemistry is your one-stop laboratory for performing all your photovoltaics analysis.
Products can be tested by Alfa Chemistry include:
Photovoltaic raw materials: EVA backsheet, laminate, reflective film, junction box, silicone, POE, glass, EPDM, flux, cell, silicon, acid, slurry, silicon carbide, suspension, silicon nitride, methanol
Photovoltaic modules: crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, planar photovoltaic modules, photovoltaic modules for the ground, photovoltaic modules, crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules
Product Development
Product Testing and Certification
Performance and Safety-related Environmental Testing
Product Quality Monitoring and Inspections
- EL Tester: Detects internal defects in photovoltaic modules, such as cracks, broken grids, and black spots, through the phenomenon of electroluminescence (EL).
- Power Tester: Measures the output power of photovoltaic modules and evaluates their performance degradation. It is used in the R&D, production, and quality control stages of photovoltaic modules to test their actual power generation capability.
- IV Tester: Measures the current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve of photovoltaic modules, obtaining key parameters such as open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and maximum power point voltage and current. It is used to assess the electrical performance of photovoltaic modules and determine if they meet design requirements.
- Data Acquisition System: Real-time acquisition of operational data from photovoltaic power plants, including current, voltage, power, temperature, and other parameters. It provides the basis for fault diagnosis and performance analysis, helping operators and maintenance personnel understand the operational status of the photovoltaic system.
- Fault Diagnosis Software: Analyzes and processes the collected data to identify potential faults and performance bottlenecks in the photovoltaic system. It enhances the reliability and stability of the system while reducing operational and maintenance costs.
- Solar Radiation Meter: Measures the intensity of solar radiation and evaluates the adequacy of solar energy resources. It provides reference data for the design and installation of photovoltaic systems and monitors the performance of photovoltaic panels.
- Anemometer: Measures wind speed and direction to assess the impact of wind energy on the photovoltaic system. It helps determine the potential of wind resources and evaluate the effects of wind load on the system.
- Thermometer/Infrared Thermometer: Measures the temperature of photovoltaic panels, inverters, or other equipment, helping determine the impact of thermal effects on system performance. It enables thermal management to ensure the proper operation of the photovoltaic system.
- Multimeter
- Oscilloscope
- Spectrum Analyzer
IEC 61730-1:2004 Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification Part I: Requirements for Construction
IEC 61730-2:2004 Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification Part II: Requirements for Testing
IEC 61215:2005 Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Module - Design Qualification and Type Approval
IEC 61646:2008 Terrestrial Thin-film Photovoltaic (PV) Module - Design Qualification and Type Approval
IEC 61214:2004 Stand-alone Photovoltaic (PV) system - Design Qualification
Alfa Chemistry's analysis services for photovoltaics include:
We offer PV laboratory qualification according to ISO/IEC 17025, which comprises verification of scope and accreditations, testing structure and laboratory layout, operations and maintenance requirements.
We test crystalline modules in accordance with IEC EN 61215 (c-Si, performance) and amorphous crystalline modules in accordance with IEC EN 61646 (thin-film, performance). The safety-related requirements for both cell technologies are tested in accordance with IEC EN 61730-1/2 (c-Si and thin-film, safety).
In addition, we also offer PV module durability testing, thresher test protocol and additional environmental stress tests such as salt mist corrosion testing, ammonia corrosion testing, dust and sand testing, potential induced degradation (PID) testing, dynamic mechanical load testing, fire testing, flammability testing, highly accelerated stress testing (HAST) and outdoor performance comparison measurements.
Alfa Chemistry evaluates the performance of your PV modules to ULC/ORD-C1703, UL 1703 and IEC 61730 safety standards as well as IEC 61215 and IEC 61646 performance standards.
Our experts conduct factory audits that include initial and follow-up surveillance for manufacturing facilities. We offer supplier evaluation, annual routine inspections comprising the predefined routine tests, special inspections and on-site assessments, preshipment inspection (PSI) and during-production audits (DuPro), as well as bankability audits.
Techniques for photovoltaics testing
Photovoltaic Module Testing Instruments
Photovoltaic System Testing Instruments
Environmental Parameter Testing Instruments
Other Auxiliary Testing Instruments
Function: Detects basic parameters such as voltage, current, and power of inverters and other electrical equipment.
Application: Used for quick detection of electrical equipment status during the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of photovoltaic systems.
Function: Analyzes the waveform quality of inverter outputs and detects potential harmonic issues.
Application: Improves the power quality of the photovoltaic system and ensures the stable operation of the grid.
Function: Analyzes the electromagnetic radiation and noise from electrical equipment and evaluates its impact on the surrounding environment.
Application: Plays a key role in electromagnetic compatibility testing of photovoltaic systems.
Industry articles
Characterization of Grain Microstructure in Photovoltaics
Lucas, Mariana Mar, et al. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 887 (2021): 161364.
The structural characterization of individual grains in thin-film photovoltaics is critical for understanding the performance of polycrystalline solar cell materials. This study utilizes three-dimensional X-ray diffraction (3DXRD) to investigate the microstructure of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) absorbers, focusing on phase identification, grain size, orientation, strain distribution, and twin boundaries. The method enables non-destructive analysis of complex materials, distinguishing between phases with similar lattice parameters, such as CZTS and ZnS.
Through this technique, nearly 600 grains in CZTS were examined, revealing a 2.5% fraction of the ZnS secondary phase. The strain distribution indicated average tensile stress (~70 MPa) within the film plane and compressive stress (~145 MPa) normal to the film. Notably, 41% of the grains were identified as Σ3 twins, with the 180° rotation along the<221>axis being the most frequent boundary type.
The 3DXRD approach provides crucial insights into the microstructure that directly influence the photovoltaic properties, such as strain-induced bandgap variations and the role of twin boundaries in charge transport mechanisms. This detailed understanding of the microstructure can guide the design of more efficient CZTS-based solar cells by optimizing the grain-level properties for improved photovoltaic performance.
Characterization of Color Stability in Photovoltaics
Block, Alejandro Borja, et al. Solar Energy 267 (2024): 112227.
Accurate color characterization is crucial for the manufacturing quality control and long-term stability assessment of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products. Traditional colorimetric techniques face significant challenges when measuring colors under transparent layers like solar PV laminates. This study introduces an innovative large area illumination (LAI) colorimeter, combining a fiber optic spectrometer and large area illumination, to overcome these limitations. The proposed colorimeter was compared to common scanners, portable commercial colorimeters, and integrated sphere spectrometers.
The results reveal that traditional scanners produce darker images due to light losses in the glass, leading to inaccurate color determination. As glass thickness increases, common devices show decreased reflectance, particularly for high-reflective foils. In contrast, the LAI colorimeter demonstrates minimal signal reduction, providing more accurate color measurements even under thick glass laminates. For example, it significantly reduces the color change from 57 (using a commercial colorimeter) to only 3 for ivory-colored glass.
This research demonstrates that the LAI colorimeter effectively compensates for light losses and provides reliable color characterization, offering substantial improvements in BIPV manufacturing and quality control. The tool's potential applications extend beyond photovoltaics, potentially benefiting industries such as glass, construction, and automotive. Future work should focus on further improving the LAI colorimeter's portability and calibration, ensuring its applicability in commercial PV modules.
Characterization of Aluminum-Doped Zinc Oxide Thin Films for Photovoltaics
Benali, Hajar, et al. Materials today: Proceedings (2024).
The incorporation of aluminum into zinc oxide (ZnO) films enhances their potential for use as transparent conducting oxides in photovoltaic cells. This study investigates the effects of varying aluminum doping concentrations (0 to 10 at.%) on the structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films, deposited via the sol–gel dip-coating method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the formation of the desired hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure, with a preferential orientation along the (0 0 2) direction. As aluminum doping increases, the crystallite size decreases from 22 nm to 19 nm, indicating the successful substitution of Zn2+ ions by Al3+ ions within the lattice.
Optical measurements using UV-visible spectroscopy show that aluminum doping improves the transparency of the films, with transmittance ranging from 60% to 79% in the 350-750 nm range. The band gap slightly widens with increased Al concentration, fluctuating between 3.21 and 3.25 eV, without significant impact on the refractive index or extinction coefficient. Notably, the optical properties approach their peak values at 10 at.% Al, suggesting enhanced performance for solar cell applications. These results demonstrate the promising potential of aluminum-doped ZnO thin films for use in photovoltaic devices, with further investigation needed to optimize their performance for practical applications in solar energy harvesting.
Photovoltaics characterization guidance, standards and specifications
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