POWERGRID Wins Contracts to Evacuate 18 GW of Renewable Energy

MNRE Seeks Feedback on Guidelines for PM-Surya Ghar Rooftop Solar Program

Apple Partners with CleanMax to Power India Operations with Renewable Energy

Explainer: Application Process for ALMM Inclusion and Renewal

EU Member States Sign Solar Charter to Boost Domestic Manufacturing

Daily News Wrap-Up: NTPC’s 1 GW Wind-Solar Hybrid Auction

Sprng Energy, AMPIN, Juniper, ReNew, Avaada Win NTPC’s 1 GW Hybrid Auction

Biofuels Firm GPS Renewables Raises $50 Million in Debt Financing

Solar Auctions Surge by 229% in Q1 2024, Tender Activity Up 122%

Global Wind Installations Reached 1 TW Milestone in 2023

<p>The International Electrotechnical Commission (<a href="https://www.iec.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IEC</a>) has issued a new standard – the IEC 62938:2020 &#8211; to test the resistance of solar photovoltaic modules to large amounts of snow piling up on their surfaces.</p>
<p>The IEC defines the test standard as a method for determining how well a framed PV module performs mechanically under the influence of inclined non-uniform snow loads.</p>
<p>It said that this standard was introduced based on how previous market experiences have shown the need for a specific test method for measuring resistance to snow loads as needed. Previously, the IEC 61215-1:2016 was the closest equivalent to this test, and it contained various test methods to induce mechanical stresses to measure how well solar modules could withstand different loads.</p>
<p>The older test, however, was constrained as it could only be used to assess uniform loads on a horizontal plane, unlike the new one which can test non-uniform loads on a sloped pane. The IEC said that there were several reports of bent and misaligned modules in areas with heavy snow.</p>
<p>It said that this was observed at large systems in mountainous areas where modules in the lower rows of sloped installations were affected. Because modules are installed at an inclined position, snow will slide down the panel and accumulate unevenly at the bottom edge of the frame. As a result of this, the lower part of the module needs to withstand greater stress. The IEC also noted that ice might also accumulate between the frame and glass, applying even more stress on the module.</p>
<p>The IEC noted that this standard was applicable only for framed modules with framed protruding beyond the first glass surface on the lower edge after installation, as <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Young_girl_cleaning_photovoltaic_solar_panels_from_snow%2C_Grange_Farm%2C_UK.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this</a> is what stops snow from sliding off the edge. This standard does not apply to other kinds of modules with back rails formed in frames, on the side, top, and lower edges which will not create an additional snow barrier.</p>
<p>Recently, a team of research scientists led by the University of New South Wales, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, have, for the first time, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/new-generation-solar-testing-standards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">produced</a> a new generation of experimental solar energy cells that have passed the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) testing standards for heat and humidity.</p>
<p>A little earlier, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy also <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-renewable-energy-standardization-cell-quality-standards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">decided</a> to set up a Renewable Energy Standardization Cell. The objectives of the cell are to identify the areas in renewable energy where standards need to be developed and identify international standards such as International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for applications in Indian climatic conditions. India’s northern region, especially Leh, Ladakh, and parts of Himachal Pradesh, experiences heavy snowfall in the winter season.</p>
<p>Image credit: 1010 Climate Action / CC BY (<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Young_girl_cleaning_photovoltaic_solar_panels_from_snow%2C_Grange_Farm%2C_UK.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2.0</a>)</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/ankita/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Ankita Rajeshwari</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><p><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ankita-edited-1.png" alt="Ankita Rajeshwari" /> Ankita is an editor at MercomIndia.com where she writes and edits clean energy news stories and features. With years of experience in the news business, Ankita has a nose for news and an eye for detail. Prior to Mercom, Ankita was associated with The Times of India as a copy editor for the organization’s digital news desk. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Delhi University and a Postgraduate Diploma in journalism. <a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/ankita/">More articles from Ankita Rajeshwari.</a></p>
</div></div><div class="clearfix"></div></div></div>

IEC Issues New Standard for Testing Resistance of Solar Modules to Heavy Snow

standard

Get the most relevant India solar and clean energy news.

RECENT POSTS