Skip to main content
Back

EVS-EN IEC 61215-1:2021

Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 1: Test requirements

General information

Valid from 15.04.2021
Base Documents
IEC 61215-1:2021; EN IEC 61215-1:2021
Directives or regulations
None

Standard history

Status
Date
Type
Name
01.07.2021
Corrigendum
15.04.2021
Main
03.01.2017
Main
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 98th 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 TS 62941 regarding quality systems in PV manufacturing.
This document is intended to apply to all terrestrial flat plate module materials such as crystalline silicon module types as well as thin-film modules. It does not apply to systems that are not long-term applications, such as flexible modules installed in awnings or tenting.
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.
This document does not address the particularities of PV modules with integrated electronics. It may however be used as a basis for testing such PV modules.
The objective 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 contrast, the tests procedures described in this series, in IEC 61215-2, are performed on modules.

Required fields are indicated with *

*
*
*
PDF
31.72 € incl tax
PDF redline
41.24 € incl tax
Paper
31.72 € incl tax
Browse standard from 2.44 € incl tax
Standard monitoring

Customers who bought this item also bought

Main

EVS-EN IEC 61215-2:2021

Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 2: Test procedures
Newest version Valid from 15.04.2021
Main

EVS-EN IEC 61215-1-1:2021

Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 1-1: Special requirements for testing of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules
Newest version Valid from 15.04.2021
Main

EVS-EN IEC 61730-1:2018

Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification - Part 1: Requirements for construction
Newest version Valid from 03.05.2018
Main

EVS-EN IEC 61730-2:2018

Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification - Part 2: Requirements for testing
Newest version Valid from 03.05.2018