Funding Opportunity: SuNLaMP
SunShot Subprogram: Photovoltaics
Location: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Amount Awarded: $10,055,000
This project supports the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s involvement in the Photovoltaic (PV) Module Quality Assurance Task Force (PVQAT) to develop the international test standards necessary to validate the quality of PV modules and determine service lifetimes.
APPROACH
The project will contribute to improving the quality of PV modules, implement a conformity assessment system for PV power plants to meet the requirements of international standards, and develop and implement a rating system to ensure durable design of PV modules.
INNOVATION
PVQAT work is targeted at making PV modules more reliable by reducing field failure rates, lowering degradation rates, and increasing module lifetimes. This will increase confidence of investors, installers, and customers, thereby leading to increased deployment of PV and reduced interest rates on the loans required to finance systems.