IEC TS 62915:2018

Photovoltaic (PV) modules - Type approval, design and safety qualification - Retesting

IEC TS 62915:2018(E) 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. Changes in material selection, components and manufacturing process can impact electrical performance, reliability and safety of the modified product. This document lists typical modifications and the resulting requirements for retesting based on the different test standards. This document is closely related to the IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 series of standards.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 06-May-2018
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering
• Technical Committee: TC 82 - Solar photovoltaic energy systems
• Drafting Committee: WG 2 - TC 82/WG 2

Relations

• Revised: IEC TS 62915:2023 - Photovoltaic (PV) modules - Type approval, design and safety qualification - Retesting
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC TS 62915 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-05
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
colour
inside
Photovoltaic (PV) modules – Type approval, design and safety qualification –
Retesting
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IEC TS 62915 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-05
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
colour
inside
Photovoltaic (PV) modules – Type approval, design and safety qualification –

Retesting
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-5615-2

– 2 – IEC TS 62915:2018 © IEC 2018
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Retesting . 7
4.1 General . 7
4.2 Test programs for crystalline silicon PV modules . 8
4.2.1 Modification to frontsheet . 8
4.2.2 Modification to encapsulation system . 9
4.2.3 Modification to cell technology . 10
4.2.4 Modification to cell and string interconnect material or technique . 10
4.2.5 Modification to backsheet . 11
4.2.6 Modification to electrical termination . 12
4.2.7 Modification to bypass diode . 12
4.2.8 Modification to electrical circuitry . 13
4.2.9 Modification to edge sealing . 13
4.2.10 Modification to frame and/or mounting structure . 14
4.2.11 Change in PV module size . 14
4.2.12 Higher or lower output power (by 10 % or more) with the identical
design and size and using the identical cell process . 15
4.2.13 Increase of over-current protection rating . 15
4.2.14 Increase of system voltage . 15
4.2.15 Change in cell fixing tape . 15
4.3 Test programs for thin-film PV modules . 15
4.3.1 Modification to frontsheet . 16
4.3.2 Modification to encapsulation system . 16
4.3.3 Modification to front contact (e. g. TCO) . 17
4.3.4 Modification to cell technology . 17
4.3.5 Modification to cell layout . 18
4.3.6 Modification to back contact . 18
4.3.7 Modification to edge deletion . 19
4.3.8 Modification to interconnect material or technique . 19
4.3.9 Modification to backsheet . 19
4.3.10 Modification to electrical termination . 20
4.3.11 Modification to bypass diode . 21
4.3.12 Modification to edge sealing . 22
4.3.13 Modification to frame and/or mounting structure . 22
4.3.14 Change in PV module size . 23
4.3.15 Higher or lower output power (by 10 % or more) with the identical
design and size . 23
4.3.16 Increase of over-current protection rating . 23
4.3.17 Increase of system voltage . 23
Annex A (informative) . 25
A.1 Required retests for crystalline silicon PV modules, tabular overview . 25
A.2 Required retests for thin-film PV modules, tabular overview . 27
A.3 Combined test flow IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 (see Figure A.1 and Table A.3) . 29
A.4 Tests for new combinations of material in direct contact with each other . 31

Figure A.1 – Combined test flow IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 . 29
Figure A.2 – Illustration of example for required tests for new material combinations . 33

Table A.1 – Required retests for crystalline silicon PV modules . 25
Table A.2 – Required retests for thin-film silicon PV modules . 27
Table A.3 – IEC identifiers for test sequences . 30
Table A.4 – Example for required tests for new material combinations . 32

– 4 – IEC TS 62915:2018 © IEC 2018
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) MODULES – TYPE APPROVAL,
DESIGN AND SAFETY QUALIFICATION – RETESTING

FOREWORD
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Technical specifications are subject to review within three years of publication to decide
whether they can be transformed into International Standards.
IEC TS 62915, which is a technical specification, has been prepared by IEC technical
committee 82: Solar photovoltaic energy systems.

The text of this technical specification is based on the following documents:
Enquiry draft Reports on voting
82/1331/DTS 82/1378A/RVDTS
Full information on the voting for the approval of this technical specification can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
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