The China Quality Certification Centre has designed new testing methods to fairly evaluate the performance of the solar modules in extreme environments, according to the company.
JA Solar has become the first solar manufacturer to receive certification for its PV modules “in extreme environments” from the China Quality Certification Centre (CQC).
As part of the certification process, CQC tested JA Solar modules for reliability and durability under high temperatures in both dry and humid conditions as well as in conditions simulating those found at high altitudes.
JA Solar said the tests, which meet International Electrotechnical Commission standards, concluded that its modules continued to perform well in each of these environmental conditions.
The CQC certification is the latest quality accreditation awarded to JA Solar. The company’s products have received numerous quality certifications, having passed TÜV SÜD’s Thresher tests, TÜV NORD’s salt mist corrosion and sulfur dioxide corrosion tests, ammonia corrosion tests and dust and sand corrosion tests.
Hot-dry climate is characterised by dryness, large temperature differences and often dust and sand. It is common in northwestern and northern China, deserts in the Middle East and North Africa, southwestern United States and northwestern India. Warm-wet climate, on the other hand, is characterised by high temperature and high humidity.
The climate is common in the southern coastal areas of China, Southeast Asia and tropical forest in the Caribbean region. Coastal regions and areas near saline lakes are affected by salt fog as well. Plateau climate is characterised by high altitude, long-term low temperature and frozen soil; it is common to regions such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Gansu Province and Qinghai Province. These three harsh climate conditions negatively impact modules’ reliability, life span and performance.
JA Solar said existing testing standards do not adequately evaluate the modules’ performance under these extreme environment conditions.
“Having supervised the establishment of a large number of power plants as well as analysed test data, CQC summarised the influences that regional climates can have on modules and designed testing methods to fairly evaluate the performance of the solar modules in extreme environments. These three tests include 30 subtests in extreme environments such as salt spray test, ammonia test and PID test.”
JA Solar Chief Operating Officer Yong Liu said, “This certification gives our customers additional confidence that JA Solar modules will deliver reliable performance, even in extreme environmental conditions.”
CQC is China’s largest professional certification body.
