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DURASOL Multisite Platform for testing the durability of Solar Materials and Systems

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joint platform for testing the durability of solar materials and systems https://www.durasol.fr/
It aim is to increase the durability of any type of solar energy systems.

Technical Info

DURASOL is a joint platform of scientific equipment for testing the durability of solar materials and systems coordinated by CEA-INES. and counts on seven partners from Industry, Research, and Technology development, which all contribute with their equipment and expertise to projects dealing with the durability of solar materials and systems.

For outdoor testing under real operation conditions, a large spectrum of different stress factors are available: UV, Thermal cycling, Salt Spray, High humidity and temperature, as well as high system voltages for PID studies.

Furthermore, advanced lab equipment allows for accelerated durability testing under controlled conditions.

Durasol is an investment of 12M€ from which 6M€ have been financed by the French government as Excellence Equipement in the Investments for the future programme. This support is greatfully acknowledged.

Durasol is powered by the excellence of the platform partners involved and can be accessed by any interested party.

Partners

Main Techical Features

For outdoor testing under real operation conditions, a large spectrum of different stress factors are available: UV, Thermal cycling, Salt Spray, High humidity and temperature, as well as high system voltages for PID studies. These testbeds contain in situ monitoring of the modules I/V curve. The test sites have been selected to present a maximum stress available under real operation conditions.

Outdoor stress testing

Stress factor	Climate	Localization	Technology
UV, Thermal cycling	high alpine climate	Pic de Bure (French Alpes)	PV
Salty Sea Spray	Mediterranean seaside	Vignola (Corsica)	PV/ST/CSP
High Voltage Potential		Cadarache (South France)	PV
High temperature	Low concentration	Cadarache (South France)	CSP
High Temperature	Integration in Mediterranean Building	Cadarache (South France)	PV/ST
High Temperature and snow	Integration in pre-alpine Building	Le Bourget du Lac (French Alpes)	PV/ST/CSP
High humidity and temperature	Tropics	La Réunion (Indian ocean)	PV/ST/CSP
High industrial emissions		Les Renardière (Paris area)	PV

PV=Photovoltaics, ST=Solar Thermal, CSP=Concentrated Solar Power

A complete equipment list available for testing services is shown here:
Equipment list

Advanced lab equipment for accelerated durability test: field of application

Furthermore, there is lab equipment available allows for testing small samples or full size modules.

Field	Localization	Technology	Partner
Polymer Studies	Clermont-Ferrand	PV/ST/CSP	ICCF
Mechanical Studies	Lyon	PV/ST/CSP	LAMCOS
Optoelectrical and material characterizations	Marseille	PV	IM2NP
Weathering chambers Systems characterization Optical characterization Material characterization	Le Bourget du Lac	PV/ST/CSP	CEA
PV Trakker	Les Renardière	PV	EDF

PV=Photovoltaics, ST=Solar Thermal, CSP=Concentrated Solar Powe

Linitations or constraints

Durasol is powered by the excellence of the platform partners involved and can be accessed by any interested party. There are three ways to do this:

The use of equipment is carried out in the framework of innovation development projects, primarily aiming at industrial partners who wish to use the Durasol platform and the expertise its partners to develop innovative solutions or improve their products.
Another form of usage can be made within collaborative projects with academic or industry partners, which may be supported by public entities. It is also possible to set up a PhD thesis which profits from the Durasol platform.

Ad hoc access can be provided for academic or industry partners requiring a test or characterisation in order to advance with their own projects.

TYPICAL SERVICES OR RESULTS

accurately understanding the aging of materials and technologies while covering the entire value chain of any solar energy technolo
studies to understand the properties of the materials and processes. and to understand physical laws of material aging
to improve durability and reliability for all solar technologies.