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Protective Layer Of Epoxy Resin Helps Prevent the leakage of pollutants from perovskite solar
L Launches Mobile PV Unit Testing Laboratory In India
With atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reaching their highest recorded levels in history,
UL Launches Mobile PV Unit Testing Laboratory In India With Capacity To Evaluate 300
and extreme weather events continuing to rise in number, the world is moving away from
Modules At One Go To Enable Onsite Solar Module Evaluation.
legacy energy systems relying on fossil fuels towards renewables such as solar. Perovskite solar technology is promising, but one key challenge to commercialization is that it may release pollutants such as lead into the environment - especially under extreme weather conditions. “Although PSCs are efficient at converting sunlight into electricity at an affordable cost, the
Illinois, United States based global safety certification company Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has launched its first mobile PV unit testing laboratory in India. It says the company is the first independent third-party certified and accredited company to launch a mobile PV testing lab in the Asian country.
fact that they contain lead raises considerable environmental concern,” explains Professor
With the help of this lab, solar PV system owners and operators will be able to identify,
Yabing Qi, head of the Energy Materials and Surface Sciences Unit, who led the study,
evaluate and replace underperforming modules directly at the solar plant site, saving time
published in Nature Energy.
and maximizing energy production. The lab helps detailed checks of up to 300 modules in
“While so-called ‘lead-free’ technology is worth exploring, it has not yet achieved
one shift and can identify hidden defects such as micro cracks, inactive areas or hotspots
efficiency and stability comparable to lead-based approaches. Finding ways of using lead
quickly and reliably, said UL. It can conduct tests on insulation, performance with low
in PSCs while keeping it from leaking into the environment, therefore, is a crucial step for
irradiance, performance at normal operating cell temperature (NOCT) and temperature
commercialization.”
coefficient.
Testing to destruction
The lab is equipped with an A+A+A solar simulator with a high-resolution
Qi’s team, supported by the OIST Technology Development and Innovation Center’s Proof-
electroluminescence (EL) test system as per IEC 60904-9 standard.
of-Concept Program, first explored encapsulation methods for adding protective layers to PSCs to understand which materials might best prevent the leakage of lead. They exposed cells encapsulated with different materials to many conditions designed to simulate the sorts of weather to which the cells would be exposed in reality. They wanted to test the solar cells in a worst-case weather scenario, to understand the
UL claims the mobile testing facility enables standard-compliant and precise on-site testing at maximum throughput.“Underperforming PV modules can bring down the energy output of a whole solar power plant which is a huge risk in terms of internal rate of return, possible damage to the modules and loss in power generation,” said Director
maximum lead leakage that could occur. First, they smashed the solar cells using a large
for renewables in Asia Pacific for UL, Dr Chakradhar Byreddy. “It was a natural progression
ball, mimicking extreme hail that could break down their structure and allow lead to be
for UL to launch the mobile PV unit testing laboratory in the Indian market, especially
leaked. Next, they doused the cells with acidic water, to simulate the rainwater that would
at a time when the government of India is working towards developing robust quality
transport leaked lead into the environment.
standards for components and systems.”
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