Beware of nasty surprises

While the low prices may seem like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the risk of buying defective or non-compliant modules is high, as recent Fraunhofer ISE papers also confirm.
To ensure the return on investment and protect the profitability of the system, it is essential to rely on experienced professionals to audit PV modules.

Why EL alone is not enough

One of the most common mistakes is to believe that electroluminescence (EL) alone is enough to prove the quality of a module.
The reality is that verification of PV modules requires more in-depth analysis, including precision IV testing and visual inspections, to determine whether the performance declared (Pmax) is actually met.

A real example of non-compliance

In our inspection activities with the new mobileLAB, we are increasingly finding severe problems even before the modules are installed.

Here is a real-world example: during a recent incoming inspection test activity, we found a significant discrepancy between the claimed and actual power. The EL images show a marked and progressive mismatch as underperformance increases on several different modules. This kind of inconsistency can have a significant impact on the plant performance estimates.

Designs and investments, of course, are based on a fundamental value (module nominal power) that, is almost never verified with precision measurements.