Test Lab Kiwa Pel has published his 11th annual PV -module Reliability Scorecard. This digital resource offers stakeholders in the solar industry of test insights obtained from the flagship product qualification program of Kiwa Pvel (PQP). The PQP is an extensive series of extensive reliability and performance tests that evaluate solar modules under a wide range of environmental and mechanical conditions – including the effects of extreme temperatures and high humidity, as well as the effects of mechanical stress, hail and ultraviolet light.
Kiwa Pel
In the 11th edition, Kiwa Pvel mentions a total of 50 manufacturers as “top artists” in one or more of the tests, with nine manufacturers mentioned as top performers with at least one model type mentioned in each of the seven test categories.
Other important highlights of the Scorecard 2025 include:
- Only 21 model types achieved the topper status in all reliability tests (thermal bicycles, moisture heat, mechanical stress sequence, hail voltage inspection, potential induced breakdown and slightly induced demolition + Letid), and only three models were also in pan.
- There are mixed results in PQP tests, with some improvement and other trending down. The PID and PAN results improved, but the fracture speed of the MSS and HSS module has increased. Similarly, the UVID results are starting to improve, but for some people are still a source of care.
- 83% of the module manufacturers had at least one test failure, an increase of 66% reported in the 2024 score card, which at the time had been reported the highest percentage ever.
“The rapid pace of innovation in the landscape of the PV module is encouraging and it is great to see more products that reach the status of the top performance,” said Tristan Erion-Lorico, VP of Sales and Marketing at Kiwa PVL. “However, we continue to warn that buyers do not assume that not all modules have been created. Our tests remain considerable variability in performance and reliability in the long term. The score card remains an essential tool for navigating these differences, making purchasing teams smart, risky decisions.”
The complete 2025 PV module reliability scorecard is available online at scorecard.pvel.com. With the help of the Top Performers -Tool, users can explore detailed test results, filter by manufacturer, moduletype and test category and download custom search results for further analysis.
“Our Scorecard 2025 reveals both the progress and the challenges associated with a dynamic PV modulem market,” said Kevin Gibson, managing director of Kiwa Pvel. “For more than ten years, we have tested rigorous modules to reveal reliability and performance trends, and this year was no exception. Although not every test result exceeded our expectations, many – who demonstrate resilience and excellence in an evolving industry.”
In order to be eligible for the 2025 score card, manufacturers must have completed the PQP monster production factorys after 1 October 2023 and at least two factory witness PV modula monsters submitted to all PQP confrontability tests, according to the BOM test requirements of Kiwa Pvel.
News item from Kiwa Pvel
