12 manufacturers score Top Performing solar modules in PVEL’s 2022 Scorecard

Solar module news this year has been mostly bad, so how about some good news: A record 12 manufacturers had at least one Top Performing module type in every reliability test in the 2022 PV Module Reliability Scorecard. Published annually by PV Evolution Labs (PVEL), the Scorecard provides actionable insights for PV module procurement based on data from PVEL’s lab and field testing.

“The 2022 PV Module Reliability Scorecard is a testament to the resilience of an industry that is relentlessly pursuing the deployment of reliable solar power – no matter what obstacles arise. We know that the world is counting on us for the transition to clean energy,” said Jenya Meydbray, PVEL CEO. “At PVEL, we create the data that matters for a greener future, and we’re pleased to report that results have improved across many of our tests.”

The 2022 edition names 122 model types of PV modules from 25 manufacturers as Top Performers in PVEL’s testing. It summarizes results from the PV Module Product Qualification Program (PQP), a comprehensive testing regime established by PVEL in 2012 to provide empirical data for PV module benchmarking and project-level energy yield and financial models.

The 2021 Scorecard was somewhat headlined by increases in failures. The 2022 Scorecard shows more positive testing results. You’re going to want to flip through the interactive Scorecard yourself, right here. But here are some notable findings from this year:

Positive

• Of those 12 manufacturers with a Top Performing module, six of these model types were also Top Performers in energy yield (PAN) performance.
• This year’s Thermal Cycling results were the best in PVEL’s history: 90% of modules tested degraded by less than 2%.

Mixed bag

There was a wide range of performance in Damp Heat testing: 50% of modules achieved top-performing results after the full test sequence, but one module degraded by 54%, the worst DH result in PVEL history.

Negative

In a year of successes, PVEL also observed failures in testing. Just under half of all participating manufacturers suffered at least one failure.

“Manufacturers overcame significant challenges in the last year, and compared to previous Scorecards, the 2022 results show that module technology is improving overall,” noted Tristan Erion-Lorico, VP of Sales and Marketing at PVEL. “PVEL’s Scorecard showcases impressive examples of product performance and reliability across our rigorous testing program, allowing buyers to easily identify high-quality modules.”

Participation in PVEL’s PQP and Scorecard is voluntary for manufacturers and only top-performing module model types are named in the Scorecard. To date, PVEL has tested over 500 BOMs from more than 50 manufacturers for the PV Module PQP.

Tags: PVEL