CSA C61215-1-2:25 ✓ Most Recent

CSA Preface 

This is the second edition of CSA C61215-1-2, Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules — Design qualification and type approval — Part 1-2: Special requirements for testing of thin-film Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) based photovoltaic (PV) modules , which is an adoption, with Canadian deviations, of the identically titled IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) Standard 61215-1-2 (second edition, 2021-02). It supersedes the previous edition, published in 2018 as CAN/CSA-IEC 61215-1-2 (adopted IEC 61215-1-2:2016). For brevity, this Standard will be referred to as "CSA C61215-1-2" throughout. This Standard is intended to be used in conjunction with CSA C61215-1:25, Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules — Design qualification and type approval — Part 1: Test requirements (adopted IEC 61215-1:2021, with Canadian deviations), and CSA C61215-2:25, Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules — Design qualification and type approval — Part 2: Test procedures (adopted IEC 61215-2:2021, with Canadian deviations). This Standard identifies requirements for the design qualification and type approval of terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules suitable for long-term operation in general open-air climates, as defined in IEC 60721-2-1:2013, Classification of environmental conditions – Part 2-1: Environmental conditions appearing in nature – Temperature and humidity. This Standard is intended to apply to all thin-film CdTe based terrestrial flat plate modules. As such, it addresses special requirements for testing of this technology supplementing CSA C61215-1:25 and CSA C61215-2:25 requirements for testing. This Standard defines PV technology dependent modifications to the testing procedures and requirements per CSA C61215-1:25 and CSA C61215-2:25. This Standard is considered suitable for use for conformity assessment within the stated scope of the Standard. This Standard was reviewed for Canadian adoption by the CSA Working Group on Photovoltaic Panels, under the jurisdiction of the CSA Technical Committee on Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems, the CSA Strategic Steering Committee on Performance, Energy Efficiency, and Renewables, and the CSA Strategic Steering Committee on Requirements for Electrical Safety, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee. This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group. 

Scope 

This document 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. Test results are not construed as a quantitative prediction of module lifetime. In climates where 98 th percentile operating temperatures exceed 70 °C, users are recommended to consider testing to higher temperature test conditions as described in IEC TS 63126. Users desiring qualification of PV products with lesser lifetime expectations are recommended to consider testing designed for PV in consumer electronics, as described in IEC 63163 (under development). Users wishing to gain confidence that the characteristics tested in IEC 61215 appear consistently in a manufactured product may wish to utilize IEC 62941 regarding quality systems in PV manufacturing. This document is intended to apply to all thin-film CdTe based terrestrial flat plate modules. As such, it addresses special requirements for testing of this technology supplementing IEC 61215-1:2021 and IEC 61215-2:2021 requirements for testing. This document does not apply to modules used with concentrated sunlight although it may be utilized for low concentrator modules (1 to 3 suns). For low concentration modules, all tests are performed using the irradiance, current, voltage and power levels expected at the design concentration. The object of this test sequence is 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. Accelerated test conditions are empirically based on those necessary to reproduce selected observed field failures and are applied equally across module types. Acceleration factors may vary with product design and thus not all degradation mechanisms may manifest. Further general information on accelerated test methods including definitions of terms may be found in IEC 62506. Some long-term degradation mechanisms can only reasonably be detected via component testing, due to long times required to produce the failure and necessity of stress conditions that are expensive to produce over large areas. Component tests that have reached a sufficient level of maturity to set pass/fail criteria with high confidence are incorporated into the IEC 61215 series via addition to Table 1 in IEC 61215-1. In contrast, the tests procedures described in this series, in IEC 61215-2, are performed on modules. This document defines PV technology dependent modifications to the testing procedures and requirements per IEC 61215-1:2021 and IEC 61215-2:2021.