Report Reveals Rising Solar PV Module Defects, Impacting Power Loss and Return on Investment for Asset Owners.

A report by the Clean Energy Associates (CEA) in the US has found a rise in solar PV module defects, most notably micro-cracking, line cracks and soldering errors, which are largely from the manufacturing side. The report also highlighted a significant increase in manufacturing errors. The Renewable Energy Test Centre (RETC) in Fremont, California, president and CEO Cherif Kedir suggests that while manufacturers and EPCs can be blamed for issues later or obscurely arise, these issues can lead to loss of power and return on investment for an asset owner. The CEA’s findings also highlighted an increase in backsheet cracking, striation rings, and potential issues with the manufacturer or EPC. Despite efforts by developers to perform field EL testing on the modules before they are installed, this is not sustainable or cost-efficient due to the cost of such testing.