What is BS EN IEC 61215‑2 about?
BS EN IEC 61215‑2 lays down requirements for the design qualification of terrestrial photovoltaic modules suitable for long-term operation in open-air climates. The useful service life of modules so qualified will depend on their design, their environment and the conditions under which they are operated.
BS EN IEC 61215‑2 gives technical specifications such as definitions, test samples, marking and documentation, pass criteria, major visual defects, test flow and procedures and testing such as thermal cycling test, humidity-freeze test, damp heat test, wet leakage current test, static mechanical test, hail test, and bypass diode test etc., terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules.
Note 1: BS EN IEC 61215‑2 applies to all terrestrial flat plate module materials such as crystalline silicon module types as well as thin-film modules.
Note 2: BS EN IEC 61215‑2 does not apply to modules used with concentrated sunlight although it may be utilized for low concentrator modules. For low concentration modules, all tests are performed using the irradiance, current, voltage and power levels expected at the design concentration.
Who is BS EN IEC 61215‑2 for?
BS EN IEC 61215‑2 on terrestrial photovoltaic modules is applicable to:
- Manufacturers and suppliers of solar panels/cells
- Retailers and dealers of photovoltaic modules and solar panels
- Companies dealing with solar panels and modules
Why should you use BS EN IEC 61215‑2?
Photovoltaic modules are a web which captures solar power to transform that power into sustainable energy. It is also known as solar panels.
The photovoltaic module has a VM of 15 V which is typically designed to charge a 12V battery.
BS EN IEC 61215‑2 defines a set of test procedures for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules which helps you out for designing qualification and type approval. It consists of control device in which you can identify the irradiance sensor that is used to detect drifts and other problems of the solar simulator.
BS EN IEC 61215‑2 servers the objective to determine the electrical characteristics of the module and to show, as far as possible within reasonable constraints of cost and time, that the module is capable of withstanding prolonged exposure outdoors.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN IEC 61215‑2:2021 supersedes BS EN 61215‑2:2017, which is withdrawn.
BS EN IEC 61215‑2:2021 includes:
- Addition of cyclic (dynamic) mechanical load testing (MQT 20), Addition of a test for detection of potential-induced degradation (MQT 21) and test methods required for bifacial PV modules.
- Addition of test methods required for flexible modules. This includes the addition of the bending test (MQT 22), revision of simulator requirements to ensure uncertainty is both well-defined and minimized.
- Correction to the hot spot endurance test, where the procedure for monolithically integrated (MLI) thin film technologies (MQT 09.2) previously included two sections describing a procedure only appropriate for silicon modules.
- Removal of the nominal module operating test (NMOT), and associated test of performance at NMOT, from the IEC 61215 series, selection of three diodes, rather than all, for testing in the bypass diode thermal test (MQT 18).