IEC TS 62915:2023
(Main)Photovoltaic (PV) modules - Type approval, design and safety qualification - Retesting
Photovoltaic (PV) modules - Type approval, design and safety qualification - Retesting
IEC TS 62915:2023 sets forth a uniform approach to maintain type approval, design and safety qualification of terrestrial PV modules that have undergone or will undergo modification from their originally assessed design. This document addresses two types of PV module technologies, wafer-based technologies (WBT) and monolithically-integrated (MLI) thin-film based technologies.
This document lists typical modifications and the resulting requirements for retesting based on the different test standards. It provides assistance; at some level, engineering judgement may be needed.
This publication contains attached files in the form of xls document. These files are intended to be used as a complement and do not form an integral part of the publication.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2018. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- Prior references to specific process-related changes to PV modules have been removed in this edition and replaced with a general requirement to ensure that a consistent quality management system is in place per IEC 62941
- References to IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 have been updated to the latest editions (2021 and 2023 respectively)
- Retest requirements with respect to new added tests such as cyclic (dynamic) mechanical load (MQT 20) and potential-induced degradation (MQT 21) are addressed in this edition
- Retest requirements for IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 have been separated for the sake of clarity
- A comprehensive matrix table summarizing all the retest requirements for each possible change in material(s) or design modification is provided in this edition
- References to component level standards, namely IEC 62788-1 series and IEC 62788-2 series, are included in this edition to address changes that could be made to the critical sub-components going into new PV module constructions
- Crystalline silicon and thin film references have been updated to be consistent with nomenclature in the updated IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 standards; namely, wafer-based technology (WBT) and monolithically integrated (MLI) thin film PV modules
- In this edition, 4.3 which addresses retest requirements for MLI thin film PV modules has been truncated and simplified by removing redundant sections that are identical with the subclauses in 4.2
Guidance for retesting modules according to IEC TS 63126, “Guidelines for qualifying PV modules, components and materials for operation at high temperatures” has been added to this edition.
- In this edition, requirements have been added for changes affecting system compatibility with variants of the same model
The contents of the corrigendum 1 of July 2024 have been included in this copy.
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Standards Content (Sample)
IEC TS 62915 ®
Edition 2.0 2023-09
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
colour
inside
Photovoltaic (PV) modules – Type approval, design and safety qualification –
Retesting
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IEC TS 62915 ®
Edition 2.0 2023-09
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
colour
inside
Photovoltaic (PV) modules – Type approval, design and safety qualification –
Retesting
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-7444-6
– 2 – IEC TS 62915:2023 © IEC 2023
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Retesting . 8
4.1 General . 8
4.2 Test programs for WBT PV modules (including crystalline silicon) . 9
4.2.1 Modification to frontsheet . 9
4.2.2 Modification to encapsulation system . 11
4.2.3 Modification to cell technology (specific to wafer-based technologies
(WBT)) . 13
4.2.4 Modification to cell and string interconnect material (specific to WBT) . 14
4.2.5 Modification to backsheet . 15
4.2.6 Modification to electrical termination . 17
4.2.7 Modification to bypass diode . 19
4.2.8 Modification to electrical circuitry (specific to WBT) . 20
4.2.9 Modification to edge sealing . 20
4.2.10 Modification to frame and/or mounting structure . 21
4.2.11 Change in PV module size . 23
4.2.12 Higher or lower output power with the identical design and size . 23
4.2.13 Increase of over-current protection rating . 24
4.2.14 Increase of system voltage by more than 5 % . 24
4.2.15 Change in cell fixing or internal insulation tape (specific to WBT) . 25
4.2.16 Change in label material (external nameplate label) . 25
4.2.17 Change from monofacial to bifacial module . 25
4.2.18 Changes to module operating temperature . 26
4.2.19 Changes affecting system compatibility with variants of the same model . 26
4.3 Test programs for MLI thin-film PV modules . 27
4.3.1 Modification to frontsheet . 27
4.3.2 Modification to encapsulation system . 27
4.3.3 Modification to front contact (e. g. TCO) . 27
4.3.4 Modification to cell technology . 27
4.3.5 Modification to cell layout . 28
4.3.6 Modification to back contact . 28
4.3.7 Modification to edge deletion . 29
4.3.8 Modification to interconnect material or technique . 29
4.3.9 Modification to backsheet . 30
4.3.10 Modification to electrical termination . 30
4.3.11 Modification to bypass diode . 30
4.3.12 Modification to edge sealing . 30
4.3.13 Modification to frame and/or mounting structure . 30
4.3.14 Change in PV module size . 30
4.3.15 Higher or lower output power with the identical design and size . 31
4.3.16 Increase of over-current protection rating . 31
4.3.17 Increase of system voltage . 31
4.3.18 Change in label material (external nameplate label) . 31
4.3.19 Change from monofacial to bifacial module . 31
4.3.20 Changes to module operating temperature . 31
4.3.21 Changes affecting compatibility with variants of the same model . 31
4.3.22 Changes to documentation . 31
Annex A (normative) Retests and test flow . 32
A.1 Required retests for PV modules, tabular overview . 32
A.2 Combined test flow IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 (see Figure A.1 and
Table A.2) . 39
A.3 Tests for new combinations of materials and/or components . 41
Bibliography . 43
Figure 1 – X-X and Y-Y axes relevant for the elastic section modulus of a typical PV
frame . 21
Figure A.1 – Combined test flow IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 . 39
Figure A.2 – Illustration of example for required tests for new material combinations . 42
Table A.1 – Required retests for PV modules . 32
Table A.2 – IEC identifiers for test sequences . 40
– 4 – IEC TS 62915:2023 © IEC 2023
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) MODULES – TYPE APPROVAL,
DESIGN AND SAFETY QUALIFICATION – RETESTING
FOREWORD
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IEC TS 62915 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar photovoltaic energy
systems. It is a Technical Specification.
This publication contains attached files in the form of xls document. These files are intended to
be used as a complement and do not form an integral part of the publication.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2018. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
• Prior references to specific process-related changes to PV modules have been removed in
this edition and replaced with a general requirement to ensure that a consistent quality
management system is in place per IEC 62941
...
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