The document summarizes characterization methods used at the CFV Solar Test Lab, including indoor and outdoor testing of photovoltaic modules. Indoor testing involves measuring temperature coefficients and performance matrices according to IEC standards. Outdoor testing also measures temperature coefficients and collects data to model performance. The lab aims to improve measurement uncertainty and reduce differences compared to other facilities. It is a joint venture located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that benefits from ideal weather conditions and research partnerships.

1. CVF Solar | New Presentation1
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
PV Module Characterization Methods at CFV Solar Test
Lab
Sandia 2014 PV Systems Symposium – Santa Clara, CA
Larry Pratt , Nick Riedel, and the CFV Team

2. Agenda – Characterization at CFV
• Intro to CFV Solar Test Lab
• Indoor characterization
– Temperature coefficients
– 61853-1 performance matrix
• Outdoor characterization
– Temperature coefficients
– Sandia modeling coefficients
• Industry areas for improvement

3. Joint Venture of Renowned Standards and Research
Organizations
World renowned solar research
lab with deep technical expertise.
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Solar innovation lab in Massachusetts
with module prototyping capabilities.
Solar certification is for European and US standards. The CFV Solar Test Laboratory joins CSA and VDE certification
capabilities in PV and creates a globally accepted certification service.
Scientific & Management Advisor to CFV.
PV-module research capabilities
Partner for test-standards development.
Contributing extensive expertise
to design and setup the module
certification lab. Partner for global
PV Test center alliance.

4. Ideal Test Conditions in Albuquerque, NM
• Highest Solar Irradiance in USA
>> Altitude keeps temperatures low
• National Research Laboratories
>> Sandia, Los Alamos Nat’l labs
• Universities Active in Solar
>> UNM, CNM
• Existing Solar Companies
>> Emcore/Suncore, Sandia,
Array Technologies, Unirac, CST, Affordable Solar, Sacred Power, …
• Political Support
>> NM promotes solar on all levels of government (State, County and City)
• Good Accessibility, Workforce & Living Conditions
>>Albuquerque has excellent scientists, culture and nature
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5. h.a.l.m. Flash Solar Simulator
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• Manufactured by h.a.l.m. Electronik
• Class AAA per IEC 60904-9:
• Spectral match to AM 1.5 G
• Uniformity of irradiance
• Temporal stability of flash
• Integrated thermal chamber (25 – 65 C)
• Irradiance from Xe arc lamp
• 100 - 1100 W/m2
• Controlled by voltage
• Three methods of lamp calibration
• PTB calibrated reference cell (HOQ and KG3)
• Control module tested at ISE Fraunhofer
• Outdoor reference Isc transfer
• Three quadrant capability for DIV
• I-V measurements taken with hysteresis
• Sections used if needed
h.a.l.m. indoor I-V measurement system
PTB calibrated low-uncertainty reference cell

6. Measurement uncertainty in IV at STC for silicon
• Absolute uncertainty calculated from an algorithm developed at
Fraunhofer ISE, driven by reference cell calibration, non-uniformity, and
spectral mismatch .
– The uncertainty is consistent with the range of values reported in the 2005
module RR sponsored by NREL, most of which was due to the Isc (read
“reference cell”)
– The authors conclude that absolute uncertainty cannot be less than +/- 3%
• Relative uncertainty is calculated from the moving range estimates of the
standard deviation from two check modules that are measured daily.
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Parameter Absolute [%] Relative [%]
Pmp +/- 2.8 +/- 0.40
Isc +/- 2.3 +/- 0.20
Imp +/- 2.3 +/- 0.25
Voc +/- 0.6 +/- 0.20
Vmp +/- 0.7 +/- 0.25

7. Indoor Temperature Coefficient Testing
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• Determined per IEC 61215/61646 §10.4
• Four RTDs place on backsheet
• Module heated from 25 to 65° C
• I-V measurements taken every 2°C
• Considerations:
• Reference cell temperature
• Remains at 25-28°C
• Temperature dwell time before measurement
• 1.5 to 2 minutes
• Module temperature uniformity
• < 1.2° C with help of laminar air flow
• The system is also capable of taking I-V while
cooling the module from 65 to 25° C
• Heating method can be performed faster
• Repeatability of +/- 0.01%/ C for Pmp
• Including effects of cool down and
extended dwell times

8. Indoor IEC 61853-1 Performance Testing
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• A given temperature is targeted and then multi-
irradiance measurements are taken.
• Irradiance is changed with lamp voltage.
• A supplemental thermal chamber must be used
for temperatures outside of 25-65 ° C.
• Sections measurements and hysteresis must
be adjusted accordingly.
• Our partner CSE Fraunhofer creates .PAN files
based on these performance data.
• The IEC spectral match rating changes
with irradiance.
• Class A for all irrad. 400-800 nm
• Class B/C > 800nm and < 400 W/m2
• Lower irradiances (ie voltages) shifts
intensity towards λ > 700 nm.
• Spectrum shifts to IR by fractions of a
percent as lamp ages.

9. Flasher Upgrade for Efficient 61853-1 Testing
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• ND filters to preserve
spectrum below 600 W/m2
• Improved thermal capacity
for testing 15-75°C
• Installed by Q4 2014 or
sooner
Thermo
generator
Curve Tracer Capacitor Bank
PV
DUT
Xe Arc

10. Outdoor Temperature Coefficients
• CFV follows the procedures established at SNL – work instructions will be
available later this year
– Shade module, cool to near ambient, insulate backside, set up curve tracer, uncover, sweep
curves while module heats in the sun, regression analysis of translated IV versus Tc-25
• Non-uniform temperature distribution of the cells is a concern
• Temp Coeff for Pmp tends running higher in magnitude by 0.05% to 0.1%
absolute when compared to indoor estimates at CFV
• What is the average cell temperature during indoor/outdoor temp coeff
testing? - See Cliff Hansen et al, PVSC40
• Repeatability of +/- 0.01%/ C for Pmp temperature coefficient
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Sensor ßVmp (%/C)
BS average -0.48
TC1 -0.52
TC2 -0.42
TC3 -0.42
TC4 -0.55
TC5 -0.49

11. Performance Model Coefficients
• SAPM
– CFV follows the procedures established at SNL – work instructions will
be available later this year
• Temperature Coefficients
• Angle of Incidence
• Electrical performance modelling (SAND2004-3535)
• .PAN file generation in partnership with CSE Fraunhofer
– Multi-Irradiance and temperature data provided by CFV
– .PAN file generation by CSE Fraunhofer
– Recommend three representative modules for full test matrix
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12. Industry areas for improvement
• Reference cell calibration
• 2.1 and 2.3% delta on outdoor ref cells measured at SNL and ISE
• 2% delta on indoor ref cell measured at PTB and NREL
• US calibration values lower in all three cases
• Temperature coefficient delta of 0.05% to 0.1% absolute
• Results in a 1% to 2% prediction error at 45 C cell temperature
• Combined effect of RC and temp coeff could be as high as 4%
• CEC temp coefficient limits are not consistent with those reported in the
Yingli RR
• Why specify IEC 60904-3 spectrum for low irradiance testing?
• Is this likely in the real world?
• What’s a reasonable alternative, given the labs can’t easily adjust spectrum
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13. Contact:
CFV Solar Test Laboratory, Inc.
5600-A University Blvd SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Martin Plass
Senior VP & General Manager
Martin.Plass@cfvsolar.com
+1 (505) 998-0102
or
Customer Service at
Info@CFVSolar.com
+1 (505) 998-0100
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Thank you !