Lessons Learnt From Qualification Testing In The US

Transcription

1 Lessons Learnt From Qualification Testing In The US Frederic Dross, Head of Module Business DNV GL Energy 19 April 2017 Presentation Delivered at SNEC Shanghai Ungraded 1 DNV GL April 2017 SAFER, SMARTER, GREENER

2 About DNV GL DNV GL is the world s largest independent energy & renewable advisory firm. We have over 2500 energy experts. More than 1000 are focused on renewables. 350 Offices 14,000 Employees DNV GL has advised over 5500 solar projects. 15 laboratories including PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) in Berkeley, California 2

3 DNV GL Product Qualification Program (PQP) and other component-testing services 3

4 Product qualification program (PQP) Building trust! Sign up for PQP testing Share Reports Provide Active Support Manufacturers >45 manufacturers Most Tier 1 Downstream Partners >175 in the network > 30GW/y of buying power Sign waiver to share reports Sign Engagement Letter including NDA Reach out in confidence To sign up as manufacturer: frederic.dross@dnvgl.com To sign up as downstream partner: tara.doyle@dnvgl.com 4

5 DNV GL product qualification program (PQP) (also known as PVEL PQP) Tough Test including 2x to 4x IEC-duration testing Includes participation in the DNV GL-GTM module reliability scorecard (2017 version available in May) Increased visibility on the Bloomberg Tier 1 list > 70 PQPs since inception 5

6 Component testing services 1. Product qualification program: downstream partners obtain data / reports. Support for managing approved vendor list or RFP invites 2. Statistical batch testing: Statistical testing at the project by project level to screen for defects on the modules going to the project site 3. Field testing: Verification that power plant operation matches expectations 6

7 Lessons learnt from 6 years of reliability testing in California 7

8 Lesson number 1: Manufacturer s know-how is important Source: DNV GL database Some manufacturers perform consistently good Some manufacturers perform consistently not-so-good Typically, good manufacturers go to the PQP more often 8

9 Lesson number 2: The bill of material matters Source: DNV GL database Same module type Different bill of material DNV GL defines one BOM with 107 parameters (EVA, backsheet, etc.) Factory location is one element of the BOM 9

10 Degradation after TC800 (%) Lesson number 3: Location is not a good proxy for quality Source: DNV GL-GTM Scorecard 2016 Little correlation with the location of the production facility OEM factories may or may not increase project technical risk Each factory has to be evaluated thoroughly Jinko, JA, Hanwha and Canadian announced 4GW of expansion in

11 Degradation after TC800 (%) Lesson number 4: Manufacturing size is not a good proxy No obvious correlation with the size of the manufacturer Same manufacturer may have good and not-so-good modules, based on billof-material, factory location, market where the module is distributed, etc. 11

12 Lesson number 5: Certification does not necessarily mean quality IEC pass/fail criteria Source: DNV GL database 6% of modules fail IEC Most of the modules we test are IEC certified Nonetheless, 6% do not pass the IEC criteria Testing on the batches going to the project site is important! 12

13 Summary 13

14 Lessons learnt Manufacturer s know-how matters Bill-of-material is critical Location is not a good proxy for quality Manufacturing size is not a good proxy for quality Certification does not necessarily mean quality Key recommendations from DNV GL - Purchase only modules with extended 3 rd party reliability test data (similar to DNV GL s PQP) - Plan IEC-type testing on the modules going to the project site (Statistical batch Testing) 14

15 Scorecard Using the qualification program data we have released the PV module reliability scorecard Free download on the DNV GL website Report contains high level test results details are available to downstream partners BOM and factory location is critical Inverter qualification scorecard coming in Scorecard will be out in May Thermal Cycling Results Results presented with Top Group (to the left of green vertical line) named in alphabetical order 15

16 Contact us to learn more PV Inverters and Storage Testing: PV Modules and Field Testing: Downstream Partner Sign-Up, Reference Cells and Trackers Testing: SAFER, SMARTER, GREENER 16