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LeTID and the future of module degradation testing – control for defects to deliver lower LCOE

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Light and elevated temperature induced degradation (LeTID) is a pain for investors and EPCs. In this webinar, Q CELLS will openly demonstrate how it ensures that the modules that it produces are LeTID free. The company pioneered research and investigation into this effect several years ago.

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Speakers

Friederike Kersten

Friederike Kersten completed her Ph.D. at Hanwha Q CELLS and Institute of Applied Physics of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. As Ph.D. student her work covered the field of degradation of mono- and multicrystalline silicon solar cells and modules with dielectric rear side passivation during charge carrier injection. She received her Ph.D. in 2019. Currently, Friederike works as a Senior Expert Process Technologist in the field of solar cell development at Hanwha Q CELLS. The main working fields are defect characterization and degradation mechanisms during development/improvement of next generation solar cell structures.

Ian Clover

Ian Clover is the Manager Corporate Communications at Q CELLS. Ian’s role is to liaise with the solar industry media and press, producing press releases and articles from Q CELLS, conducting interviews with journalists and aligning with the media during solar exhibitions and trade shows. Prior to joining Q CELLS, Ian spent 12 years working as a journalist – five of which were at pv magazine as editor and managing editor.

Esther Fokuhl

Esther Fokuhl received her Bachelor’s degree in Renewable Energy Engineering and her Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from University of Applied Sciences, Nordhausen. Since 2017 she is working at TestLab PV Modules, Fraunhofer ISE, focusing on reliability topics of photovoltaic modules. Currently, she is a PhD student with research focus on monitoring degradation mechanisms in PV modules.

Moderators

Michael Fuhs | Chefredakteur, pv magazine

Michael schreibt seit 2008 über Solarthemen, ist seit 2010 Redaktionsleiter von pv magazine und hat als Chefredakteur die deutsche Plattform mit aufgebaut. Zuvor war er für Hörfunk, Fernsehen und überregionale Zeitungen tätig und hat in Physik promoviert.

Light and elevated temperature induced degradation (LeTID) is a pain for investors and EPCs, as they can hardly control this solar module degradation process. Even manufacturers themselves may have difficulties to effectively test for it, as it evolves very slowly when using standard test designs.

In this webinar, Q CELLS will openly demonstrate how it ensures that the modules that it produces are LeTID free. The company pioneered research and investigation into this effect several years ago, comparing lab test results with field investigations. These results were published in leading academic journals.

In this webinar, Friederike Kersten, Senior Expert Process Technologist, R&D, will explain Q CELLS’ degradation testing, and particularly its LeTID procedures. Friederike will argue why the company sets the benchmark in the industry; delivering the kinds of results that are ideal for customers seeking long-term performance of their modules. In addition, she will broaden the scope to also demonstrate the company’s new results of boron-oxygen (BO) destabilization during damp heat testing. Such testing procedures are a result of years of dedicated R&D.

Joining Friederike will be Ian Clover, Q CELLS’ Corporate Communications Manager, to provide a brief overview of how limiting the impact of LeTID can mean a lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for your solar installations.

Esther Fokuhl, who works at the TestLab for PV Modules at Fraunhofer ISE, will provide further insight into their most up-to-date research on LeTID testing and in their estimation of the accuracy to which it is possible to predict LeTID for a manufacturer.

Webinar Content:

  • A comparison of LeTID in lab tests and field tests shows the relevance of this degradation mode
  • testing procedure to identify and tackle LeTID
  • potential errors when testing for module degradation, which EPCs should make sure that the module manufacturer knows about
  • Why certain industry certifications are not sufficient
  • More stringent tests conducted by Q CELLS and Fraunhofer ISE
  • stringent BO destabilization testing using damp heat provides more security to investors
  • insights in latest research results on LeTID at Fraunhofer

Be part of the conversation!

Questions may be submitted beforehand and during the webinar through a chat window for a fully engaging and interactive experience.

 

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