Dutch-German quality assurance company Sinovoltaics has released a free browser-based tool that generates project-specific reliability testing strategies for large-scale solar projects, prioritizes recommended laboratory tests and produces downloadable scope reports.
Sinovoltaics has launched PV Lab Test Advisor, a web-based tool that builds project-specific reliability tests for utility-scale PV projects.
Available free of charge to developers, independent power producers and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors at labadvisor.sinovoltaics.com, the tool generates a recommended test range as a downloadable PDF based on project-specific input.
The tool is designed to replace test scopes that have been copied from project to project, regardless of climate, technology or site conditions. Sinovoltaics said reliability testing strategies should be tailored to the actual climate conditions, technology selection and site-specific risks of each project.
“The industry trend to copy and paste the same scope of reliability testing from project to project does not adequately address the unique risks of each utility-scale PV installation,” said Arthur Claire, technology director at Sinovoltaics. “Context-aware reliability testing is key to preventing underperformance of utility-scale PV projects.”
The PV Lab Test Advisor is part of Sinovoltaics’ Zero Risk Solar testing framework. The company said that while on-site quality assurance at the factory remains central to preventing defects, remote laboratory reliability testing provides an additional layer of protection for utility-scale solar projects.
“This first version of the PV Lab Test Advisor captures the key test strategies for reliability testing,” said Pedro Octavio Quintana Ceres, PV expert at Sinovoltaics. “Our development team will continue to release regular updates and further refine the assessment tool based on expert input from our laboratory testing partners and customers.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect a revised press release issued by Sinovoltaics after its initial publication.
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