IEC TS 62915:2023

IEC TS 62915 ®
Edition 2.0 2023-09
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
colour
inside
Photovoltaic (PV) modules – Type approval, design and safety qualification –
Retesting
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IEC TS 62915 ®
Edition 2.0 2023-09
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
colour
inside
Photovoltaic (PV) modules – Type approval, design and safety qualification –

Retesting
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 27.160  ISBN 978-2-8322-7444-6

– 2 – IEC TS 62915:2023 © IEC 2023
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Retesting . 8
4.1 General . 8
4.2 Test programs for WBT PV modules (including crystalline silicon) . 9
4.2.1 Modification to frontsheet . 9
4.2.2 Modification to encapsulation system . 11
4.2.3 Modification to cell technology (specific to wafer-based technologies
(WBT)) . 13
4.2.4 Modification to cell and string interconnect material (specific to WBT) . 14
4.2.5 Modification to backsheet . 15
4.2.6 Modification to electrical termination . 17
4.2.7 Modification to bypass diode . 19
4.2.8 Modification to electrical circuitry (specific to WBT) . 20
4.2.9 Modification to edge sealing . 20
4.2.10 Modification to frame and/or mounting structure . 21
4.2.11 Change in PV module size . 23
4.2.12 Higher or lower output power with the identical design and size . 23
4.2.13 Increase of over-current protection rating . 24
4.2.14 Increase of system voltage by more than 5 % . 24
4.2.15 Change in cell fixing or internal insulation tape (specific to WBT) . 25
4.2.16 Change in label material (external nameplate label) . 25
4.2.17 Change from monofacial to bifacial module . 25
4.2.18 Changes to module operating temperature . 26
4.2.19 Changes affecting system compatibility with variants of the same model . 26
4.3 Test programs for MLI thin-film PV modules . 27
4.3.1 Modification to frontsheet . 27
4.3.2 Modification to encapsulation system . 27
4.3.3 Modification to front contact (e. g. TCO) . 27
4.3.4 Modification to cell technology . 27
4.3.5 Modification to cell layout . 28
4.3.6 Modification to back contact . 28
4.3.7 Modification to edge deletion . 29
4.3.8 Modification to interconnect material or technique . 29
4.3.9 Modification to backsheet . 30
4.3.10 Modification to electrical termination . 30
4.3.11 Modification to bypass diode . 30
4.3.12 Modification to edge sealing . 30
4.3.13 Modification to frame and/or mounting structure . 30
4.3.14 Change in PV module size . 30
4.3.15 Higher or lower output power with the identical design and size . 31
4.3.16 Increase of over-current protection rating . 31
4.3.17 Increase of system voltage . 31
4.3.18 Change in label material (external nameplate label) . 31
4.3.19 Change from monofacial to bifacial module . 31

4.3.20 Changes to module operating temperature . 31
4.3.21 Changes affecting compatibility with variants of the same model . 31
4.3.22 Changes to documentation . 31
Annex A (normative) Retests and test flow . 32
A.1 Required retests for PV modules, tabular overview . 32
A.2 Combined test flow IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 (see Figure A.1 and
Table A.2) . 39
A.3 Tests for new combinations of materials and/or components . 41
Bibliography . 43

Figure 1 – X-X and Y-Y axes relevant for the elastic section modulus of a typical PV

frame . 21
Figure A.1 – Combined test flow IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 . 39
Figure A.2 – Illustration of example for required tests for new material combinations . 42

Table A.1 – Required retests for PV modules . 32
Table A.2 – IEC identifiers for test sequences . 40

– 4 – IEC TS 62915:2023 © IEC 2023
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) MODULES – TYPE APPROVAL,
DESIGN AND SAFETY QUALIFICATION – RETESTING

FOREWORD
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IEC TS 62915 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar photovoltaic energy
systems. It is a Technical Specification.
This publication contains attached files in the form of xls document. These files are intended to
be used as a complement and do not form an integral part of the publication.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2018. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
• Prior references to specific process-related changes to PV modules have been removed in
this edition and replaced with a general requirement to ensure that a consistent quality
management system is in place per IEC 62941
...