CENER-Photovoltaic Cells and Photovoltaic Systems
- Characterization of photovoltaic cells and materials
- Analysis and optimization of production technologies for solar cells
- Development of photovoltaic cell technologies
- Consulting in production environments of cells and photovoltaic components
Technical Info
The goal of the Photovoltaic Solar Energy department is to support the industrial sector and to contribute to reducing costs of the kWh produced by PV means. In this sense it is positioned midway between basic research and industrial manufacturing environments. CENER is actively involved at all stages of photovoltaic cell production, from the study of the individual materials (absorbents, conductors, anti-reflective, ...), through the manufacturing process and the final characterization of the device
MAIN TECHNICAL FEATURES:
The infrastructures for testing and research are deployed over more than 700 m2. Laboratories are equipped with cutting-edge tools in both aspects, the testing of components (PV modules, inverters, trackers…) and the research in materials technology and process for PV cells fabrication. The outdoor tests requiring high dose and continuous radiation are done in Almería.
The diverse technical qualifications of department members enable the development of activities ranging from the study of photovoltaic cell materials and technologies technologies for PV cells and modules up to the design and testing of the final PV plant. The PV Department includes two knowledge environments: Photovoltaic Systems and Photovoltaic Cells.
The infrastructures for testing and research are deployed over more than 700 m2. Laboratories are equipped with cutting-edge tools in both aspects, the testing of components (PV modules, inverters, trackers…) and the research in materials technology and process for PV cells fabrication. The outdoor tests requiring high dose and continuous radiation are done in Almería.
The diverse technical qualifications of department members enable the development of activities ranging from the study of photovoltaic cell materials and technologies technologies for PV cells and modules up to the design and testing of the final PV plant. The PV Department includes two knowledge environments: Photovoltaic Systems and Photovoltaic Cells
LIMITATIONS OR CONSTRAINTS :
The access will be allowed with technical and scientific assistance from staff of the CENER
TYPICAL SERVICES OR RESULTS
1.Photovoltaic cells:
- Characterization of photovoltaic cells and materials
- Analysis and optimization of production technologies for solar cells
- Development of photovoltaic cell technologies
- Consulting in production environments of cells and photovoltaic components
2. Photovoltaic installations:
- Full technical assistance for the implementation of photovoltaic installations (radiation type-year, site-specific production, installation project design, construction follow up and start-up testing and production monitoring).
- Certification of PV plants by following internal procedures based on IEC-62446 and IEC-61724.
- Functional testing and diagnostic of PV installations by means of “in situ” testing of components (modules and inverters), inspection and analysis of the whole PV plant.
- Due diligence of finished and under construction PV plants.
3.Photovoltaic module test:
- Accredited by the Spanish National Accreditation Entity (ENAC) and also by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for testing PV modules under the following standards:
- IEC-61215 for crystalline silicon PV modules
- IEC-61646 for thin film PV modules.
- IEC-61730 Electrical Safety Tests.
- IEC-62108 for CPV
- CENER is Testing Laboratory (TL) for PV modules within the CBTL (Certification Body Testing Labporatory) scheme of IECEE, with AENOR as Certification Body.
- CENER is cooperating with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for testing of PV modules in accordance to the IEC- standards and within the Data Acceptance Procedure scheme for testing UL Standards.
4. Other related activities
- Statistical verification of Photovoltaic modules power (as of IEC-609041).
- Testing of Photovoltaic modules power degradation (flash simulator or “in situ” as per IEC-60904-1).
- Development and testing of prototypes for BIPV.
- Testing and verification of reference cells to be used as irradiance sensors (based on IEC-60904-4).
- PV modules characterization, analysis of defects and working conditions by means of various techniques
- Electroluminscence.
- Lock-in thermography.
- Accelerating aging tests.
- Photovoltaic inverters laboratory
Participation to Research Projects:
- BITHINK (2005-2008) FP6 EU work program. Bifacial Thin Industrial multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells. Research on the reduction of PV cells thickness in order to lower the cost. CENER participated in the study of the mechanical properties of Silicon wafers and Bifacial PV devices characterization
- DEPHOTEX (2008-2011)FP7 EU work program: Development of photovoltaic textiles based on innovative fibers. CENER worked on TCO process development and characterization of the textile-based PV devices obtained.
- S-LIGHT (2011-2013). Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: Research on low weight encapsulating materials for BIPV modules. CENER participates by providing support for the proposed prototypes by developing testing for the electrical and mechanical aspects of the new designs.
- MICROSIL (2007-2010). Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry: Design and industrialization of Silicon thin film and heterojunction PV technologies. CENER was responsible for the testing, characterization and study of effi ciency limiting factors of the samples obtained.
- POLYGLASS (2010—2012). FP7 EU-SME: Development of a new technology CPV module. CENER participated in the characterization tests of the concentration optics
- ECLIPSE (2011 - 1013) Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: Development of a PV System to integrate in green-houses to contribute in the improvement of the energy efficience.
- ETFE (2013 -2017). FP7 EU - work program (on going). Demonstration of smart multifunctional PV modules. The objetive is the development, evaluation and demostration of a flexible multifunctional ETFE module for architectural façade lighting.
- SIGMAPLANTAS. Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: Project devoted to CPV energy production plants optimization. CENER work involved the tests for the new CPV plants to be connected to the grid.
- SIGMATRACKERS. Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: Project devoted to CPV trackers optimization. CENER work involved the tests for new CPV trackers.
- VALER. Government of Navarra. Project devoted to PV systems. CENTER work involved monitoring test during operation of PV systems of different PV modules technology
