Beyond Standard Test Conditions

Transcription

1 Beyond Standard Test Conditions All-Energy Australia 2015 October 7, 2015 Haydn Fletcher National Sales Manager, Module Business

2 Safe Harbor Statement This presentation has been prepared by Canadian Solar Inc. (the Company ) solely to facilitate the understanding of the Company s business model and growth strategy. The information contained in this presentation has not been independently verified. No representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information or the opinions contained herein. None of the Company or any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives will be liable (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this presentation or its contents or otherwise arising in connection with the presentation. This presentation contains forward-looking statements and management may make additional forward-looking statements in response to your questions. Such written and oral disclosures are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of These forward looking statements include descriptions regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to its future performance, consolidated results of operations and financial condition. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as expects, plans, will, estimates, projects, or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and assumptions. Although we believe our expectations expressed in such forward looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that they will be realized, and therefore we refer you to a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties contained in the Company s annual report on Form 20-F as well as other documents filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission. In addition, these forward looking statements are made as of the current date, and the Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, unless otherwise required by law. 2

3 Beyond Standard Test Conditions The Solar Industry is maturing Nameplate data specifically Standard Test Conditions (STC s) don t reflect module performance or reliability Other countries such as the USA have developed PTC s Meanwhile the IEC are developing a module energy rating standards 3

4 Standard Test Conditions Solar panels are covered by many local and international standards and regulations The IEC developed IEC & IEC61646 to specify testing methods IEC determines module safety IEC sets the standards, others undertake the certification AS/NZS 5033 specifically refers to the above standards Renewable Energy Target (RET) references AS/NZS

5 Standard Test Conditions Standard Test Conditions define a solar panel STC s determine rated power output based on: Module/Cell temperature of 25 C Irradiance of 1000 W/m² Air mass 1.5 (AM1.5G) Zero wind speed. STC s are a comprehensive quality process but have shortcomings Taken at a single moment in time Don t mimic real world conditions System performance primarily relies on operating temperature and irradiance both highly variable and dependent on site location 5

6 Standard Test Conditions STC s don t reward: The manufacturer who spends considerable money on developing higher yielding panels with same nameplate The installer who competes against lower yielding modules of the same rated output The end user who doesn t understand why different systems of same nameplate generate less/more energy IEC and IEC clearly state that reliability is not addressed What complimentary or alternative tests exist to STC? 6

7 PVUSA Test Conditions California Energy Commission established the PV for Utility-Scale Applications or PVUSA Test Conditions (PTC) rating Developed to evaluate overall system performance over time Provides greater real world measurements of solar panel performance Modules rated using: Ambient temperature of 20 C ambient (not cell) Irradiance of 1000 W/m² 10m above sea level 1m/s wind speed 7

8 PVUSA Test Conditions In California, manufacturers must have modules independently tested to PTC standards High PTC ratings indicate higher actual on-site solar energy production per Watt installed Incentive payments are calculated based on PTC ratings This leads to faster return on investment and a greater rebate Many products aren t performing anywhere near others of the same peakwatt nameplate based on STC s 8

9 PVUSA Test Conditions Comparison of PTC v s STC: 60-cell modules 9

10 PVUSA Test Conditions Comparison of PTC v s STC: 72-cell modules 10

11 PTC for Australia Would a PTC rating work in Australia? The PTC rating is a good start to compare panels more effectively - suitable in climates similar to California Like the USA, Australia is a large country - a single PTC wouldn t work Australian PTC calculations can be adapted to suit different regions Each region can correlate with 4 x zones used to calculate RET incentives Image courtesy of Rheem Australia 11

12 PTC and RET The Renewable Energy Target (RET) calculates Small-scale Technology Certificates (STC s) and Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGC s) based on nameplate rating PTC has shown that not all modules are created equal A rebate scheme shouldn t reward poor performing modules Australian Solar Council have a quality programme has no teeth as not linked to incentives Any quality programme or new standards need to be linked to RET 12

13 Beyond STC s Module Energy Rating IEC Technical Committee 82 Working Group 2 (TC82 WG2) developing IEC 61853: PV performance testing and energy rating Series of new standards: IEC : power (watts) compared to temp. & irradiance IEC : effect of incident angle on modules IEC : calculating energy (watt -hours) based on above IEC : performance ratio (PR) 23-element performance characteristics rather than single point such STC or PTC ratings 13

14 Summary Here today to start the conversation As an industry we need to continue to drive innovation and excellence We are leaders when it comes to installation methods and standards We are too happy to accept STC s as only comparison installers need more Do we want to meddle with the RET? Couple RET with a similar scheme to that be California Reward quality Reward Energy not Power 14

15 References

16 Thank You! All-Energy Australia 2015 October 7, 2015 Haydn Fletcher National Sales Manager, Module Business /au