IEC 61646:2008
Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval

Standard No.

IEC 61646:2008

Release Date

2008

Published By

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

Latest

IEC 61646:2008

Replace By

IEC 61215-1-4:2016 IEC 61215-1-3:2016 IEC 61215-2:2016 IEC 61215-1-2:2016

Replace

IEC 82/512/FDIS:2008 IEC 61646:1996

Scope

This International Standard lays down requirements for the design qualification and type approval of terrestrial, thin-film photovoltaic modules suitable for long-term operation in general open-air climates as defined in IEC 60721-2-1. This standard is intended to apply to all terrestrial flat plate module materials not covered by IEC 61215. The test sequence is derived from IEC 61215 for the design qualification and type approval of terrestrial crystalline silicon PV modules. However, it no longer relies on meeting a plus/minus criterion before and after each test, but rather on meeting a specified percentage of the rated minimum power after all of the tests have been completed and the modules have been light- soaked. This eliminates the technology-specific preconditioning necessary to accurately measure the changes caused by the test. This standard does not apply to modules used with concentrators. The object of this test sequence is to determine the electrical and thermal characteristics of the module and to show, as far as possible within reasonable constraints of cost and time, that the module is capable of withstanding prolonged exposure in climates described in the scope. The actual life expectancy of modules so qualified will depend on their design, their environment and the conditions under which they are operated.

IEC 61646:2008 Referenced Document

• IEC 60068-1 Environmental testing - Part 1: General and guidance*， 2013-10-01 Update
• IEC 60068-2-78:2001 Environmental testing - Part 2-78: Tests; Test Cab: Damp heat, steady state
• IEC 60410 Sampling plans and procedures for inspection by attributes
• IEC 60721-2-1 Classification of environmental conditions - Part 2-1: Environmental conditions appearing in nature - Temperature and humidity*， 2013-06-01 Update
• IEC 60891 Photovoltaic devices - Procedures for temperature and irradiance corrections to measured I-V characteristics*， 2021-10-27 Update
• IEC 60904-1:2006 Photovoltaic devices - Part 1: Measurement of photovoltaic current-voltage characteristics
• IEC 60904-2 Photovoltaic devices - Part 2: Requirements for photovoltaic reference devices*， 2023-06-19 Update
• IEC 60904-3 Photovoltaic devices - Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with reference spectral irradiance data*， 2019-02-15 Update
• IEC 60904-7 Photovoltaic devices - Part 7: Computation of the spectral mismatch correction for measurements of photovoltaic devices*， 2019-08-20 Update
• IEC 60904-9 Photovoltaic devices - Part 9: Solar simulator performance requirements*， 2020-09-18 Update
• IEC 61215 Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval
• ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories [Standard in French]*， 2017-11-01 Update

IEC 61646:2008 history

• 2008 IEC 61646:2008 Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval
• 1996 IEC 61646:1996 Modules photovolta?ques (PV) en couches minces pour application terrestre Qualification de la conception et homologation (Edition 1.0)

IEC 61646:2008 Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval was changed to IEC 61215-1-4:2016 Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 1-4: Special requirements for testing of thin-film Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 based photovoltaic (PV) modules.

IEC 61646:2008 Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval was changed to IEC 61215-1-3:2016 Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 1-3: Special requirements for testing of thin-film amorphous silicon based photovoltaic (PV) modules.

IEC 61646:2008 Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval was changed to IEC 61215-2:2016 Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 2: Test procedures.

IEC 61646:2008 Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval was changed to IEC 61215-1-2:2016 Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 1-2: Special requirements for testing of thin-film Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) based photovoltaic (PV) modules.