Mobile PV Test Lab

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 What are the common reasons for Solar PV underperformance ?
Causes of Underperformance Instrument
Module Stage of detection Instrument to detect
Defect Causes of defect available in Mobile
PV Module- Type/Technology of defect the defect
Test Lab
Loss seen at
aggregate level, Micro crack
Manufacturing Defect Before
Installation Issue Installation
EL Tester

need testing Manufacturing Defect Flash Tester/ Field IV
identify Snail Trail
Installation Issue
Post Installation tester
Inverter- Manufacturing Defect EL Tester / Flash
Efficiency
monitored Poly/Mono
PID
Faulty system design
Tester/ Field IV
tester

through SCADA Bypass Diode
Failure
Poor Soldering IR Thermal Camera
Transformer - Hotspot Cell crack
After
IR Thermal Camera
Efficiency monitored
through SCADA
Busbar/Finger
Corrosion
Manufacturing Defect
Commissioning
(During O&M)
Flash Tester
Thin Film
Hotspot Manufacturing Defect IR Thermal Camera
Cables- Good OEM
quality can limit
Active area
Corrosion
Moisture ingress Flash Tester
losses
Evacuation
Poly/Mono/Thin Power
Film Degradation
Manufacturing Defect
Plant Design
Flash Tester/ Field IV
tester

The PV Mobile Lab has the expertise to detect all critical module faults
Key Tests Detailed Major Tests
Performed

Flash Test
Measures I-V characteristics of PV Module at STC conditions
Key components: Flash Lamp, Flash generator, Electronics unit

EL Test
Highlights Fault and Micro cracks for each cell
Photo-emission measured by an infrared-sensitive camera

Infrared Imaging
Measures abnormal thermal behaviour of modules during DC parameter measurements
Used to find hotspots in modules, find loose connections and do thermal analysis of CB, Inverter, Trafo, HT Panel etc.

Energy Analyser Test

Measures power quality of CB, Inverter, CT, PT, & HT panel
Measures both AC and DC power, to monitor inverter efficiency and detect power quality issues

Offering all major tests required for maximising generation

 Existing
Sample PV module underperformance scenario proc
ess
Modules Degradation OEM Lab Degradation Degradationresul Modules under
93%COD: Degradation
internal testing : 7-10%, UL : Dispatch : 10%, OEM : 13.9% : Dec warranty claim
Mar-14 noticed: May-14
91% Jun-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Nov-14 ting recd. : Feb-15
14 [11 months]

89%
in
87%
signif
Temp Corrected PR [%]

icant
85%
gene
83%
ratio
81%
n
79% loss
Avg. Degradation rate = 4.3% per annum
77%
Avg. Degradation rate = 12.4% per annum
75%
01-Mar-14 01-Apr-14 01-May-14 01-Jun-14 01-Jul-14 01-Aug-14 01-Sep-14 01-Oct-14 01-Nov-14 01-Dec-14
Note: Though the plant was commissioned in March 2014, degradation being considered w.e.f. November 2013, the month of delivery of modules

Total Degradation of modules during 1st year of warranty period 13 - 15% w.r.t. name plate rating

Minimise the Loss of Generation due to delay in fault identification and rectification using the Mobile PV Lab
PV Mobile Lab Capabilities Mobile Lab

PV modules account for ~ 70% of the capex for a Solar PV plant, and underperformance of the modules can be
the single largest reason why an asset owners (lenders) financial model and actual cash flows may not match.
Early detection can lead to immediate control of losses or redressal. The role of the PV testing lab is critical
across the life cycle of the Solar PV plant, right from construction to the end of life.

USPs
On-site testing, no transportation involved - Reducing the risk of
damage during transportation
Reduced lead time for test analysis and report submission
Immediate Reports
The Owner can witness the test at site and can be used for
higher sampling rate - Transparency
Compatible with all type of technologies (mono-Si, poly-Si,
Amorphous silicon (a-Si, CIS, CIGS), CdTe, HIT & High Efficiency)
All in One
NABL Accreditation for 3rd Party testing (In Progress)
Provisional Patent No. 201721017370

Indias first Mobile Solar PV Testing Lab !

Immediate Performance Impact
Reduced time for detection of underperformance
Improved
Results Faster response rate
Potential report submission within 3 days as compared to 30 days in conventional Lab testing

Reduces the risk of module breakage during handling and transportation

Reduced
Can be done at multiple stages on-site Risk &
Reduced transportation and handling charges Costs

Quality Investment made to ensure quality for Mahindra Susten EPC and O&M stages
Player
Built to ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 standards, to be certified by NABL

Reduced damage, risk and gain significant performance impact

For questions

Sandeep Jadhav Abhay Tilwankar

Head, O&M Head, Performance Analytics, O&M
jadhav.sandeep@mahindra.com tilwankar.abhay@mahindra.com

Ruhi Gupta Satish Pandey

Manager, BD & Strategy, O&M Manager, Analytics, O&M
gupta.ruhi@mahindra.com PANDEY.SATISH@mahindra.com

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Copyright 2017 Mahindra Susten Pvt. Ltd.. All Rights Reserved.