Quantifying the impacts of cell cracking in the field

Monday, 25. May 2020
4PM - 5PM (CEST, Berlin) I 10AM - 11AM (EDT, New York) | 7.30PM - 8.30PM (IST, India)

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This pv magazine Webinar will investigate the prevalence of cracking and its impacts on plant performance, with data gathered from a wide range of crystalline silicon modules already installed and in operation, and examine how First Solar’s thin-film modules present a very different scenario when it comes to the risk of cracking. Join the discussion with our four experts!

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Presentation of Tristan Erion-Lorico, PV Evolution Labs
Presentation of Prakash Suratkar, PV Diagnostics
Presentation of Anil Kottantharayil, IIT Bombay
Presentation of Lou Trippel, First Solar

Quantify the impacts of cell cracking in the field

Whether caused by manufacturing processes, improper handling during transit or installation, or by events in the field during operation, cell cracking presents a threat to the long-term performance of a PV plant.

This pv magazine Webinar in partnership with First Solar will investigate the prevalence of cracking and its impacts on plant performance, with data gathered from a wide range of crystalline silicon modules already installed and in operation, and examine how First Solar’s thin-film modules present a very different scenario when it comes to the risk of cracking.

During the webinar, Tristan Erion-Lorico, head of the PV module business at PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) will offer details on PVEL’s work to determine a module’s susceptibility to cracking via laboratory testing that goes well beyond certification standards.

Prakash Suratkar, CEO and co-founder of PV Diagnostics, will present data gathered from 2.5 GW of PV plants in locations across India. The plants offer representative samples, with projects that have been in operation from 1 to 10 years in different geographies and climatic conditions, with a variety of bill of materials and module technologies. Mr. Suratkar will discuss the types of cell cracking observed in this study and its impact on plant performance.

Anil Kottantharayil, Head of the Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Science at IIT Bombay, will share insights into the causes of cracking and how best to detect it, as well as the longer-term implications and further risks to module performance that can arise from a cracked cell.

First Solar VP of Product Management Lou Trippel will also be on hand to explain the very different risk profile of thin-film modules when it comes to cracking.

pv magazine Webinar content

Field observations of cell cracking and its impacts gathered from 2.5 GW of operational solar projects in India.
The causes of cracking and how it can lead to performance loss in a power plant.
How rigorous laboratory testing can determine a module’s susceptibility to cracking, and thus mitigate the risk for project stakeholders.
Examination of the different risk profiles for silicon and thin-film modules.

Be part of the conversation!

Questions can be submitted beforehand or during the webinar through a chat window. Mark Hutchins, Editor at pv magazine, will be the moderator of this pv magazine Webinar. We look forward to your participation!

Speakers

Lou Trippel, Vice President - Product Management, First Solar

Lou Trippel is currently Vice President of Product Management at First Solar, where he is globally responsible for First Solar’s PV module product life cycle management and product ecosystem. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Dayton, Ohio, and a master’s degree in technology management from Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey. Since joining first solar in 2007, Lou has held several positions on First Solar’s module product management and technical sales teams, where he has both performed and led application engineering, plant energy prediction, global technical sales and product management functions.

Tristan Erion-Lorico, Head of PV Module Business, PV Evolution Labs

Tristan Erion-Lorico brings nearly 15 years of solar and electrical industry experience to PV Evolution Labs (PVEL). As Head of PV Module Business, he collaborates with PV module buyers, investors, research institutions and manufacturers to develop innovative performance and reliability test programs for product qualification. Tristan previously served as Product and Quality Manager for Silfab Solar, where he oversaw Silfab’s extended reliability testing and was responsible for new product development and new material qualification. He has also directed equipment procurement and technical site operations for solar project developers and Independent Power Producers at a range of projects across North America, South America and Asia.

Anil Kottantharayil, Head of the Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Science, and the Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility, IIT Bombay

Anil Kottantharayil has been with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, where he is currently a Professor. His research interests are in the areas of silicon-based solar cells, reliability of PV modules and soiling losses in PV systems. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 papers and conference presentations in these fields. He has been a PI/co-PI of several research projects at IIT Bombay, including the phase 1 & 2 of the Centre of Excellence in Nanoelectronics, phase 1 & 2 of the Indian Nanoelectronics Users Program (INUP), and the phase 1 & 2 of the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE). He is a distinguished lecturer of the IEEE Electron Devices Society and a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. He is presently heading the Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Science, and the Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility at IIT Bombay.

Prakash Suratkar, CEO & co-founder, PV Diagnostics

Prakash Suratkar is a CEO and co-founder of PV Diagnostics, a Technical advisory, diagnostics and PV plant performance improvement consultation firm in India. Prior to setting up PV Diagnostics, Prakash was a General Manager & Head of Technology and Process Engineering, Tata Power Solar. He has a total experience of 25+ years in the semiconductor industry in various managerial capacities and worked with organizations like Texas Instruments, Lucent Bell Labs, Agere Systems. LSI and Infineon, Tata Power Solar.

Moderators

Mark Hutchins | Magazine Director, pv magazine

Mark Hutchins joined pv magazine as production editor for our monthly global title in September 2016. He also reports on upstream technology and markets, and new and emerging solar regions for both print and online. Mark has experience in copywriting, music journalism and the fast-paced world of startups.