If you’re thinking about installing a photovoltaic system and generating your own energy, think about some of these questions.
How to choose a solar panel?
How to evaluate the plates proposed by different companies?
Which one is best suited for my installation?
At MASRED Engineering, we only work with top-brand panels that guarantee high performance. Below, we’ll explain the three key aspects to consider when evaluating solar panels.
First, you must ensure that the panel presents all European certifications for product regulations (solar panels) from an independent European certification company, such as TÜV.
UNE-EN 61215 Photovoltaic (PV) modules for terrestrial use – Design qualification and approval.
UNE-EN IEC 61730 Safety qualification of photovoltaic (PV) modules – Part 1: Construction requirements.
UNE-EN IEC 61730-2 Safety qualification of photovoltaic (PV) modules – Part 2: Test requirements
But it’s not enough to have certification from independent European certification bodies regarding product standards. Product standards require type tests (costly and sometimes destructive tests that push the panel under test to its limits and are therefore performed only once in the entire production run), so we need to ensure that this type test is valid for each panel produced in different series. This is where the need to request ISO 9001 certification from an independent European certification body becomes apparent.
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
Secondly, purchasing panels that are among the world’s best-selling gives you the confidence that it’s a field-tested panel and that the company has the financial backing to cover the costs of any issues that may arise with its panels.
The Tier 1 solar panel list, compiled by Bloomberg, is a ranking of solar panel manufacturers with financing capacity due to their involvement in large projects of tens of MW. The Tier 1 list is not synonymous with quality, but it is a classification that partially measures industry acceptance.
All the proposals that MASRED Engineering delivers to its clients are made with Tier 1 solar panels. Trina Solar, JA Solar, Risen, and Longi are some of the most used by our clients.
Thirdly, photovoltaic installations located within 5 km of the sea require additional certification for saline environments and high humidity.
IEC 61701:2011 Salt mist corrosion testing of photovoltaic (PV) modules
Photovoltaic (PV) modules are electrical devices designed to operate continuously in outdoor conditions throughout their lifespan. Highly corrosive, humid atmospheres, such as marine environments, can eventually degrade some of the PV module’s components (corrosion of metallic parts, deterioration of the properties of some non-metallic materials—such as protective coatings and plastics—due to salt assimilation, etc.), causing permanent damage that can impair their operation. Temporarily corrosive atmospheres also occur in locations where salt is used during winter to melt ice formations on streets and roads.
This standard describes test sequences that are useful for determining the resistance of different PV modules to salt spray corrosion, which contains Cl- (e.g., NaCl, MgCl2).
Depending on the specific nature of the surrounding atmosphere to which the module is exposed in actual operation, different test severities may apply, as defined in IEC 60068-2-52. For example, severity (1) is intended for use with PV modules used in a marine environment, or very close to the sea. Severities (3) to (6) are intended for PV modules operating in locations where a transition between dry and salt-laden atmospheres may occur, such as areas where salt is used to melt ice formations. Severity (2) is not suitable for PV modules, as the test conditions are too weak (this severity was initially intended for products occasionally exposed to corrosive environments and typically protected by an enclosure). It should be avoided when applying this standard.
Solar panels are a crucial component of photovoltaic installations. The system’s performance primarily depends on them, and they are also exposed to extreme weather conditions. You can’t install just any panel just because it’s cheaper.
With the advice of MASRED Engineering, you don’t have to worry; we’ll review all these aspects for you. We guarantee that the panel meets all the requirements and is also adapted to the geography and climate of your home.
Request a quote and feel the power of the sun!
