Reliability Evaluation Through Analytics and Data for Emerging Technology in Photovoltaics

UL Outdoor Facility (Ljubljana)

Outdoor Testing

  • Köppen-Geiger climate: DM (hot, humid summers; mild, rainy winters) — valuable for studying temperature-induced degradation, humidity effects, and realistic aging
  • Supports devices from small-area cells to full-size PV modules up to 500 W
  • Operation modes: MPPT, VOC, Jsc, and others; periodic high-resolution JV measurements with customizable time resolution
  • Environmental monitoring: GHI, DHI, plane-of-array irradiance, solar spectrum, ambient temperature, humidity, wind
  • Complemented by indoor equipment for JV, PL, and EL imaging under controlled conditions

UL’s outdoor test field team brings broad experience across PV device types (single-junction, tandem, small-area cells, minimodules, full modules), using in-house-developed, adaptable measurement equipment. This expertise has enabled collaborations with leading institutes (HZB, ANU, EPFL, Jülich, etc.).

Typical service: monitoring multiple devices over 6 months (adjustable on request), covering the full workflow from sample preparation (wiring, connectors, temperature sensors) to outdoor monitoring — complemented by periodic indoor measurements (JV, PL, EL imaging) before and during testing.