Our products showed excellent results. Conventional PID (potential-induced degradation) tests only take one week. During the testing period a negative voltage is applied to modules at room temperature, and modules whose performance declines by less than five percent are deemed to have passed. The tests under the new agreed extended conditions lasted for four weeks, meaning they are far more stringent than standard. Q.Cells submitted several modules for testing in line with these new conditions. In the end, TÜV Rheinland announced that all examined Q.Cells module passed the test. According to the assessment parameters used by TÜV Rheinland, none of the solar modules displayed a decline in performance by accuracy of measurement, which proves them as PID resistant.
This excellent result is yet another success underlining Q.Cells high product quality. The Fraunhofer CSP Institute had carried out a fast-track PID test on Q.Cells modules in June 2012, which all of them passed as well. Other manufacturers modules were affected by PID during that test, and some of them saw a slump in performance of over 90%.
‘The series of tests conducted by TÜV Rheinland and Fraunhofer CSP underscores just how important PID resistance is for long-life products of outstanding quality, says Karl-Heinz Küsters, Head of Technology at Q.Cells. ‘It is great for us to see that our customers are becoming more aware of the important role PID plays when determining product quality – since PID protection not only ensures a high power output, but also improves the safety of solar modules.
‘We are delighted for Q.Cells that not just one but several of the companys solar modules passed our four-week test with impeccable results, says Jörg Althaus, Head of Solar Energy at TÜV Rheinland. ‘PID is a problem that people should take very seriously. If a manufacturer fails to implement a suitable solution, it can lead to a substantial decrease in solar products output.
