Taiwan-initiated solar panel shipping standard garners international approval

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: SEMI announced the publication of "SEMI PV23-1011— Test Method for Mechanical Vibration of c-Si Photovoltaic (PV) Modules In Shipping Environment." This new SEMI Standard, which can reduce costs related to damage incurred during the transportation of PV modules, was primarily authored by the SEMI Taiwan PV Standards Committee, and vetted by the global SEMI PV Standards Committee, which consists of over 450 members, representing over 200 companies in every major PV manufacturing region.

Reliability is a critical issue in the PV industry, since module manufacturers guarantee a lifetime up to 20-30 years. Buyers invest in both the performance and reliability of the product. Tests to ensure that the module can withstand environmental conditions before shipping to customers minimize the cost to both the customers and the manufacturer.

This new SEMI Standard provides a common test method to evaluate the damage to PV modules due to the mechanical vibration occurring during transportation and shipping. The Standard can also accelerate the development of safer means of module protection during transportation.

In the past, due to the lack of unified international standards in transportation packing design for testing, many PV cell and module makers faced the problem of module fracturing and de-framing when they shipped modules overseas. This Standard will help all PV cell, module and system makers, establishing internationally-accepted test methods for shipping modules in different conditions and environments.

Terry Tsao, president of SEMI PV Group Taiwan and Southeast Asia, states, "It will not only improve the credibility of product and its packaging design, but also effectively reduce unnecessary losses related to defects generated during transportation."

Tsao pointed out that international standards are vital for technology development and cost reduction. "By leveraging the SEMI Standards international platform, we bring together industry experts and facilitate their discussion with the global PV community to exchange ideas and work towards developing globally accepted technical standards to move the global PV industry forward efficiently and profitably.”

In addition to Taiwan, the SEMI PV Standards Committee currently has regional branches in Europe, North American and Japan, and a Chinese SEMI PV Standards Committee is in the process of forming. Currently the Taiwan Committee is focused on developing standards for crystalline-Silicon Cell Appearance, Vibration Test Methods (both cell and module) and Wafer Measurement Test Methods.