PID test for solar modules will be mandatory from 1st April, 2017: MNRE

 

During PID test of the module, it will be subjected to conditioning for 3 rounds at 85°C and 85 % RH for a period of 96 hours

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has released detailed report of the decisions taken at Quarterly review meeting of test labs empanelled under Solar off Grid Programme. The quarterly meeting was held during 27th September and 23rd December 2016.

At the meeting it was decided to make Potential Induced Degradation (PID) test for solar modules mandatory from 1st April 2017.  In  order  to  simulate  the  Indian  operating  conditions,  it  was decided that during PID test of the module, it will be subjected to conditioning for 3 rounds at 85°C and 85 % RH for a period of 96 hours. In case the degradation is more than 5% after the test, the module will be treated as failed the PID test. The system voltage details of the module to be provided by the module manufacturer.

Here are other decisions taken at the meeting :-

1. The test  centers  to  stop  the  OEM  and  co-certification  testing  of  modules  with immediate effect. The modules of the manufacturers who are having OEM and co­ certification will not be considered as qualified modules under MNRE programmes.
2. The latest version  of IEC 61215  has been published  and  all the test  labs should upgrade themselves for the same. The latest version will become mandatory from 1st June 2017.
3. It was  decided  that  instead  of  RFID  tag,  the  manufacturer   should  provide  the following minimum information laminated inside the module :

• Made in India (to be subscribed in words)
• Company name/logo
• Model number (It should indicate the voltage and rated wattage of the module)
• Serial number
• Year of make

4. 4. The inverters should be tested as per IEC standards. The following criteria should be followed:

1. The benchmarking efficiency criteria for the Grid Tied (string inverters) inverter

• At nominal voltage and full load is ≥ 95 %
• For load ≥25% is ≥92 %.

2. In case of standalone I grid interactive inverter the benchmarking efficiency criteria

• At full load is 85 %
• For the load ≥ 25% is 80 %.

3. No load losses should not be more than 5%

The following tests are to be conducted on the inverters

a)  Efficiency measurement as per IS/IEC 61683 (for system with no MPPT)

b)  Overall efficiency for Grid Tied inverter as per EN50530

c)  Islanding Prevention test as per IS 16169/ IEC 62116

d)  PV system characteristics of utility interface as per IEC 61727 (the system should meet all the clauses as per the standard except the clause 5.2.2 of IEC 61727. In case of clause 5.2.2, It should withstand the over/ under frequency in the range of 47 to 52 Hz).

e)  Overall charge controller efficiency should be ≥ 85% at ≥ 10% load and ≥92% at full load, with Battery voltage at ≤ 2V/cell

f)  System should have IP65 certification for outdoor use and IP 21 and 22 for indoor use

g)  Environmental testing as per IEC 60068-2-(1, 2, 14 & 30)

    5. In case of batteries following decisions were taken:

a)  BIS standard testing number should be put in the battery tests.

b)  A separate guidelines for testing of Li-lon batteries will be provided by MNRE

c)  Presently the PV systems having the test report for the following tests on the batteries are being accepted for testing

• Capacity test (as per IS 1651)
• Watt hour efficacy measurement (as per IS 1651)
• Charge retention test (as per IS 1651)

For lead acid battery endurance test (as per IS13369 for flooded batteries and as per IS 15549 for VRLA batteries) certification for batteries will be made mandatory with effect from 151   July 2017.  While accepting the system for testing the test laboratory should ask for a copy of the test certificate of the battery as per BIS standard from the client.

6. In case of Solar Pumps following decisions were taken:

a)  The water pump should be tested for the summer and winter radiation profile. In order  to  pass  the  pump  it  should meet  the  requirement  as per  MNRE specs, for both the profiles. NISE would provide profiles details to all the test centers

b)  Suction head with realistic physical head of 7 meter only should be used for testing the pump. No simulation of suction heads is allowed for testing of the pump.

c)  A test report must have a concluding remark i.e. qualifies or does not qualify as per the MNRE specifications.

d)  The report should include the module wattage and number of the modules. A maximum variation of ± 3% in the module to module wattage and +5% in the overall capacity of the total array should be allowed.

e)  All the test labs should   provide the details of the   remote monitoring parameters observed in the test report.

f)  NISE will provide the test report format to all the test laboratories

7. No solar home system/power pack up to 300 Wp will be considered for testing if the loads(e.g. Luminaires and Fans etc.) are not provided with the system. Luminaries should be provided with the system considered for testing. The other load like fan is optional.

a)  It was decided that in case of all the specified luminaries the tolerance of +5%in wattage and -5% in lux output will be acceptable. However the maximum±5% non-uniformity in light output will be acceptable

b)  It was  also  decided  that  the  300  W  inverter  should  have  m1n1mum  90% efficiency under full load condition whereas from 25% to full load condition the efficiency should have minimum 85%.

c)  NISE will provide the test report format to all the test laboratories

8. All the test laboratories should provide a clear cut verdict in the end of the test report regarding the conformity I non conformity of the system against the standard I specifications for which it has been tested.Any discrepancy in the specifications of sample submitted, the test labs should specify the same in the report
9. From 1st July 2017, all test laboratories should start the data logging of all the test parameters during testing and a soft copy of the same will be maintained for a period of 5 years
10. The Ministry is  introducing  of  Micro  Solar  Pumps  of  0.25  HP  and  0.5  HP.  The specifications of micro pumps are enclosed in Annexure for information/comments
11. All SNAs will  cross  check  the  test  reports  submitted  by  the  companies  for  the systems to be supplied under various tenders with concerned testing laboratory.