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DOE OSTI · 3027698

A New UV Spot Test for Quality Control

Repins, Ingrid L. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000277182936)·Johnston, Steve W. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000333088267)·Silverman, Timothy J. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Delft Univ. of Technology (Netherlands)] (ORCID:0000000349517994)·Palmiotti, Elizabeth C. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000345819573)·Deceglie, Michael G. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000170639676)·Gaulding, E. Ashley [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000217721993)
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Abstract

Here, we present a fast, low-cost ultraviolet (UV) spot test to screen photovoltaic modules for UV-induced degradation (UVID). The measurement is based on a fiber-coupled arc lamp that delivers a highly accelerated local UV dose-approximately five years of equivalent field exposure in less than a day. Spot-exposed areas are evaluated using electroluminescence imaging. We test a “known bad” product, which was observed to experience UVID in the field, and a “known good” product which did not exhibit UVID in the field. Results indicate that the method may be useful as a quick and relatively inexpensive quality control screening tool for customers and manufacturers.

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14 SOLAR ENERGYPV modulesaccelerated agingphotovoltaic (PV) cellsultraviolet (UV)

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Repins, Ingrid L. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000277182936), Johnston, Steve W. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000333088267), Silverman, Timothy J. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Delft Univ. of Technology (Netherlands)] (ORCID:0000000349517994), Palmiotti, Elizabeth C. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000345819573), Deceglie, Michael G. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000170639676), Gaulding, E. Ashley [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000217721993). 2026-03-04. A New UV Spot Test for Quality Control. https://doi.org/10.1109/jphotov.2026.3663680

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