Evaluation Testing of Photovoltaic Technologies
Many manufacturers seek evaluation and performance testing of their products by in dependent source. TÜVRheinland provides a number of engineering evaluations for many manufacturers. Some common examples are listed below.
Long-Term Outdoor Exposure
TÜV Rheinland PTL also conducts Long-Term Outdoor Exposure (LT-OE) testing for many manufacturers; taking advantage of an average daily irradiance level of 6.5 kWh/m2/day at latitude tilt. In a typical LT-OE program, modules are configured with a fixed load (near maximum power) for continuous data collection; with a subset of the modules undergoing temperature monitoring and quarterly performance. TÜVReinland has developed an application form that can help you to design a LT-OE program that is suitable to your needs.
Apart from certificate-based testing programs, TÜV Rheinland PTL can perform Engineering Evaluation Test Programs based on existing standards and/or by special design. PV-related material testing is also available. Engineering Evaluations are programs in which test conditions are dictated by the manufacturer, which may or may not be consistent with standard test conditions. Data from Engineering Evaluations cannot be used for certification, but are for manufacturer’s information only.
