Testing experience of photovoltaic modules for a multimegawatt power plant

The planning of the 3.3 MW_p photovoltaic power station of Serre (Salerno), Italy, required that ENEL performed a complete set of tests, both on the solar cell module types proposed by five PV module manufacturers (type test), during the test sessions at manufacturer´s sites on the batches of modules to be shipped to Serre (acceptance tests), and at the assembly line at Serre on the PV panels (on field tests). Type tests on solar cell modules were performed by JRC and CONPHOEBUS, module acceptance tests were performed by CONPHOEBUS and CISE, and field tests were performed by CONPHOEBUS. A list of the tests performed, and the most frequent defects encountered during the testing sessions are shown in this paper. It is important to note that the aim of these notes is not to give a mark to any PV supplier, but only to put in evidence the actual state-of-the-art of the photovoltaic industry