Congratulations to our 2024 PVMI Awardees
RETC proudly presents the 2024 PV Module Index Report. Our annual publication showcases industry-leading solar module technologies and manufacturers. RETC has recognized 23 module manufacturers for some form of high achievement across the 14 different testing sequences.
The Origins of RETC’s Thresher Test
Developed by and for solar industry stakeholders, the first-ever commercial reliability and durability test standard for PV modules has been “separating the wheat from the chaff” since 2011. The Thresher Test was the product of a bottom-up collaborative effort involving an ad hoc team of experts led, in part, by RETC.
Flat-Plate Solar Array Project
Funded by the U.S. government and led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 1975 to 1986, the FSA Project marks the genesis of the terrestrial solar market. RETC looks back at JPL’s ground-breaking work in the first of a series of articles about major milestones in PV module reliability and durability testing.
Large-Format PV Module Evaluation
The value proposition associated with large-format PV modules is so compelling that some industry analysts expect 500 W+ modules to account for 90% of the market by 2025. When evaluating large-format module designs for specific applications, however, keep in mind that upfront savings may come at a cost.
RETC’s Hail Durability Test Program
In May 2019, hail damaged some 400,000 modules at the Midway Solar generating facility in West Texas, resulting in a previously unimaginable $80 million in insured losses. Recognizing that basic certification test standards are inadequate to identify and quantify the project risks associated with hail, RETC developed its innovative Hail Durability Test (HDT) program.
Reliability Lessons from Texas
The solar boom in Texas illustrates the extreme highs and lows of life on the solarcoaster. Based on its sheer size and average sun hours, Texas is blessed with the nation’s best solar resource—it is also bedeviled by extreme weather risks that necessitate enhanced product testing protocols.
Evaluating New N-Type PV Modules
Next-generation n-type PV cells are essential to the solar industry’s continued ability to drive down costs while improving performance. Here, we explore the promise of new n-type PV cell designs —as well as the potential challenges associated with scaling this promising technology.