IEA PVPS Task 13 - Enabling 2nd life photovoltaics

ISES and IEA PVPS are happy to start a new webinar collaboration. The first webinar presents the work of IEA-PVPS Task 13 and their work on 2nd life photovoltaics.

Subtask 1.2 of IEA-PVPS Task 13 aims to provide a review of technical efforts aimed at repair and re-furnishment, but also enhanced repairability of PV modules to enable a 2nd life. Secondly, it enables the possibility to exchange information about re-qualification and bankability of 2nd life PV and summarize field experience of 2nd life PV.

The Subtask actively collects and summarizes information on 2nd life of PV modules. Part 1 of the activity deals with describing and reviewing currently used repair methods of PV modules regarding efficiency and long-term stability. Part 2 of the activity explores and discusses current best practices and technical challenges for (reliability) testing, sorting, and quality/safety control for 2nd life PV modules as well as evaluate cost implications.

The webinar will point out different factors enabling a 2nd life of PV modules. One focus will be on the degradation behaviour and failure mechanisms of PV module backsheets as well as approaches, effectiveness, and field experiences for the repair of PV modules with damaged backsheet. In addition, the importance of complete information on the type and operation of the aged PV modules (origin, age, BOM, installation site and local climatic conditions, etc.) is emphasized.

Key messages of the webinar:

Condition monitoring of PV module materials is important to assess repairability after failure
Suitable repair procedure leads to restoration of electrical insulation properties of damaged backsheets
Comprehensive information about the origin and operation of the PV modules is important in order to enable 2nd life photovoltaics. Can every backsheet failure be repaired?

The webinar will address the following questions:

Can every backsheet failure be repaired?
Do repair tapes and repair coatings deliver the same results?
What about safety aspects of repaired modules?
Why is the provenance and life history important for re-used PV modules?

Speakers

Gernot Oreski - Moderator

Gernot Oreski holds a PhD in Polymer Engineering & Science Degree from the University of Leoben (Austria). Dr. Oreski is Division Manager at the Polymer Competence Center Leoben and heads the »Sustainable Polymer Solutions« division. He has over 20 years of expertise in polymers for photovoltaics. His main fields of research are ageing behaviour and long-term reliability of polymeric materials and components for demanding applications such as PV modules. Additionally, Dr. Oreski is teaching as an external lecturer at the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Leoben.

Gabriele Eder

Gabriele Eder studied Technical Chemistry and holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry in the field of “Heterogeneous Catalysis” from TU Vienna. Then she has been working as a university lecturer at the University of Twente/Netherlands, Institute for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis for three years. Gabriele Eder gained industrial experience through several years of employment at NBG Special Coatings, Lower Austria, first in the research and development department, then in production management. Since 2005 she is employed as Senior Researcher at the OFI, Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology in Vienna in the Department: Material analysis, surface technology and environmental simulation, focussing on material characterization, spectroscopy, failure analysis and ageing studies.

Gabriele Eder is a Board Member of TPPV (Austrian Technology Platform PV), participant in IEA PVPS Task 15: Acceleration of BIPV and Task 13: Reliability of PV and lecturer at the JKU in Linz.

Presentation title:

Development of a repair methodology for PV modules with damaged backsheets

Laura Bruckman

Laura S. Bruckman is an Associate Research Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Her research is focused on a data science approach to material degradation due to particular stressors with a focus on PV packaging materials. She is an expert on quantitative spectroscopic techniques and image analysis to quantify material degradation and develop predictive and degradation pathway models. She teaches in the Applied Data Science Minor program at CWRU with a focus on data science projects and communicating results to various stakeholders. Prof. Bruckman is the Director of an NSF IUCRC called MDS-Rely focused on a materials data science approach to reliability.

Presentation title:

Field Experiences of PV module backsheets

Roger H. French

Roger H. French is the Kyocera Professor, Director of the SDLE Research Center and Faculty Director of the Applied Data Science Program, at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH, USA.

Presentation title: