PUBLICATIONS
Much more can be done in the solar industry. Among many activities, STS brings its experience and expertise to the PV community by releasing reports and standards
Solar Supply Chain Traceability Protocol 1.0
The protocol, co-authored by STS, details a set of recommended policies and procedures to identify the source of a product’s material inputs, and trace the movement of these inputs throughout the supply chain.
It mainly targets to help solar companies meet compliance obligations and, importantly, provide customers with assurances that their solar products are free of unethical labor practices.
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Protocol
English
May 12, 2021
Free
It's time to Standardize QA/QC
Today, many developers “check the box” of QAQC without realizing that a number of very important variables are hid-den in the simple statement “we are using a third party to inspect modules during production.” For the QCP, the scope of control and enforcement of the requirements, we recommend to apply the Industry Standard STS-STD-PVM1:2018.
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Article
English
Apr 7, 2021
Free
What Are the Key Performance Considerations for Bankability of Solar Assets?
Bankability is ensured through the evaluation and mitigation of all risks potentially faced by the project. Since PV modules are typically the largest part of the hardware investment, evaluation and mitigation of modules technological risks is often necessary to get the project financed.
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Article
English
Feb 25, 2021
Free
LET’S TALK ABOUT ACCREDITATION!
Before commissioning a third-party inspection provider to perform the inspection activity, we highly recommend to consider weather the service provider is accredited (such as ISO17020) with required technical competence, ways to safeguard full impartiality, and enforcement of an adequate Code of Conduct (such as no conflict of interests, no freelance inspectors…), etc.
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Article
English
Feb 25, 2021
Free
How Can Advanced Data Analytics Help Cost Reduction and Improve Operation & Maintenance of Large- Scale Solar Plants?
What is the most effective way to avoid hotspots prevalence in the field caused by manufacturing defects? It is to capture the defects at the source: the production line!
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Article
English
Dec 24, 2020
Free
STS White Paper-Large Modules
This White Paper identifies each risk item associated to larger modules, explains the nature of the risk identified, and suggests mitigation strategies.
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White Paper
English
Dec 17, 2020
Free
Who is inspecting your inspectors?
Who is inspecting your inspectors? And why is ISO17020 increasingly required by assets developers and owners? From avoiding conflicts of interest to full transparency, the ISO17020 accreditation ensures you can trust your inspectors to work in full impartiality.
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Article
English
Jul 7, 2020
Free
STS-STD-PVM1:2018© Part 2 – Addendum AA2 English
This Addendum complements the Standard by adding and modifying requirements when laser-cut photovoltaics solar cells are to be used instead of full photovoltaics solar cells during the manufacturing of PV modules.
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Standard
English
May 13, 2020
150.00
STS-STD-PVM1:2018© Part 2 – Addendum AA3 English
This Addendum addresses multi-busbars photovoltaics solar cells used instead of ribbons-soldered photovoltaics solar cells during the manufacturing of PV modules.
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Standard
English
May 13, 2020
150.00
STS-STD-PVM1:2018© Part 2 – Addendum AA1 English
This Addendum specifies the changes to be brought to STS-STD-PVM1:2018© when applied to Bi-facial solar cells technology
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Standard
English
Apr 30, 2019
150.00
Securing PV Modules Quality: Trends and Best Practices
This keynote addresses the trends observed by STS in module buyers selection and appointment of third party inspection agencies, and gives recommendations on the best practices to apply to establish relevant quality assurance methods on PV modules procurement.
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Keynote
English
Apr 23, 2019
Free
STS-STD-PVM1:2018© - Parts 1 & 2 - EN+CN
STS-STD-PVM1:2018© lays down requirements for the manufacturing, dispatch, and related procedures for inspection and testing of photovoltaic (PV) modules. It is most suited to large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaics systems as it considers limited impact of cosmetic non-conformities.
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Standard
English + Chinese
Jan 31, 2019
350.00
STS-STD-PVM1:2018© - Parts 1 & 2 - CN
STS-STD-PVM1:2018© lays down requirements for the manufacturing, dispatch, and related procedures for inspection and testing of photovoltaic (PV) modules. It is most suited to large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaics systems as it considers limited impact of cosmetic non-conformities.
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Language
Publication Date
Price (USD)
Standard
Chinese
Jan 31, 2019
200.00
Trends in China's Crystalline PV Modules Manufacturing and Related Risks
This keynote introduce findings by STS on 2015 to 2018 during manufacturing inspections, the improvements made by modules manufacturers and the risks that buyers must consider when selecting a module supplier.
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Keynote
English
Oct 23, 2018
Free
STS-STD-PVM1:2018© - Parts 1 & 2 - EN
STS-STD-PVM1:2018© lays down requirements for the manufacturing, dispatch, and related procedures for inspection and testing of photovoltaic (PV) modules. It is most suited to large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaics systems as it considers limited impact of cosmetic non-conformities.
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Language
Publication Date
Price (USD)
Standard
English
May 14, 2018
200.00
Statistical Analysis of PV Module Quality in Mass Production
Through the in-depth analysis of tens of thousands of PV modules, this document offers a detailed perspective on which quality defects are the most present in PV modules, and at which rate, so that PV modules buyers and PV projects stakeholders can better anticipate the required actions to prevent risks in PV modules
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Report
English
Oct 31, 2013
Free
Quality: Current Limitations, Issues and Solutions In Mass Production
With ever dropping PV module prices, quality of solar panels is more than ever topical. In this talk held by Thibaut Lemoine at Solarpraxis’ 4th PV Power Plant Conference, 12 prejudices about PV modules’ quality are being addressed.
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Keynote
English
Oct 31, 2012
Free
Results 2011 Presentation
This report is an in-depth presentation of the results obtained by testing 70,000+ solar panels throughout 2011. The report analyzes these results in order to provide an accurate picture of PV makers’ actual quality level.
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Report
English
Feb 29, 2012
Free
Assessing The Real Quality of PV Modules
With new industrial challenges faced by the PV industry – such as the striking development of Chinese manufacturers, and ever more demanding investors and financial institutions – the quality of PV modules has never been as important as it is today. Because normative requirements are not matching the buyers’ expectations, the questions of what the real quality of a PV module is and how to assess it still remain. This paper analyzes the current situation in terms of quality and the causes of problems, and proposes some ways of addressing the issues in order for the industry to progress on the long path to excellence.
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Article (Paid)
English
Jul 31, 2011