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THE SILICON ENERGY DIFFERENCE

nAtionAl renewAble energy lAborAtory (nrel)

Performance & Reliability Research and Development, National Center for Photovoltaics Test-to-Failure of Crystalline Silicon Modules
The Silicon Energy module proved to be the most durable module for power performance and extreme terrestrial environmental applications compared to the other modules tested by NREL.

About the test:

Silicon Energys Cascade Series V1 was one of six crystalline silicon module designs tested by NREL according to the Terrestrial Photovoltaic Module Accelerated Test-to-Failure Protocol. This protocol compares the reliability of various module constructions on a quantitative basis. The modules under test were subjected to three accelerated lifetime test paths: 1) 85 C/85% humidity with system bias, 2) thermal cycling between -40 C and 85 C, and 3) a path that alternates betweem damp heat and thermal cycling. The NREL test was designed to provide comparative durability, reliability and performance results between different PV module technologies that is presently not provided by module certification testing under the UL1703 PV certification.

summAry: The testing results yielded failures in standard modules: moisture penetration leading to delamination, material degradation and corrosion; severe cell shunting; backsheet cracking; Potential Induced Degradation (PID); and failed performance. Failure modes for standard modules are shown on the following page. silicon energy AdvAntAge: The Silicon Energy module
proved to be the most durable in terms of maintaining performance compared to the other module designs from five of the top-twenty PV module manufacturers by MW sold in 2010 per the NREL report. Silicon Energys module was the only module tested with no failure modes under accelerated test scenarios! The thermal image of the Silicon Energy module is outstanding when compared to standard modules.

results:

These images illustrate the significant differences in how a standard module and the Silicon Energy module performed in the NREL testing. A consistent color indicates a healthy, fully functioning module.

standard pv module

Photo images

Electroluminescence images

Thermal images

Black spots in electroluminescence images indicate damaged cells resulting in performance loss. Inconsistencies in the thermal image indicates heat build-up and hot spots in the module caused by failure modes such as corrosion, delamination, cracking, and shunting. The images of the standard module were taken at approximately 18-years (simulated).

silicon energy

The Silicon Energy module showed no measureable performance degradation.

comments from the nrel report: The result of Silicon Energys design choices imply a low rate of moisture ingress to the cells compared to modules with polymeric back sheet and an estimated two order of magnitude greater electrical isolation of the internal cell circuitry compared to standard modules. The Silicon Energy module proved to be the most durable module for power performance. The results of this testing suggest favorable consideration of this module design for the most extreme terrestrial environmental applications compared to the other designs tested. And the innovAtion continues:
Silicon Energys Next Generation Cascade Series PV Module and Mounting System builds off of the results and knowledge gained from NRELs testing providing you with a module with outstanding reliability and durability, a Class-A fire rated product with a 30-year warranty. Its a module designed to last!

Corrosion

Backsheet cracking

Standard module failure modes shown above

references:

Test-to-Failure of Crystalline Silicon Modules Report of results for Silicon Energy Model SiE170, Peter Hacke, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, November, 12, 2012 Using Accelerated Testing To Predict Module Reliability John H. Wohlgemuth and Sarah Kurtz, Presented at the 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference , June 19-24, 2011 System Voltage Potential Induced Degradation Mechanisms in PV Modules and Methods for Test, Peter Hacke, Kent Terwilliger, Ryan Smith, Stephen Glick, Joel Pankow, Michael Kempe, and Sarah Kurtz, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Ian Bennett and Mario Kloos. Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Presented at the 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference , June 19-24, 2011 Crystalline Silicon Modules Peter Hacke, Kent Terwilliger, Steven Glick, David Trudell, Nick Bosco, Steve Johnston,and Sarah Kurtz, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Presented at the 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, June 20-25, 2010

silicon energy, llc

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