Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) performance testing - Part 1: Standard conditions

IEC 62670-1:2013 defines standard conditions for assessing the power produced by CPV systems and their photovoltaic subcomponents. The object is to define a consistent set of conditions so that power ratings noted on data sheets and nameplates will have a standard basis. Two sets of conditions are included to characterize:  a) operating conditions, and  b) test conditions.

Konzentrator-Photovoltaik (CPV) - Leistungsmessung - Teil 1: Standardprüfbedingungen

Essai de performances des concentrateurs photovoltaïques (CPV) - Partie 1: Conditions normales

La CEI 62670-1:2013 définit les conditions normales pour déterminer la puissance produite par les systèmes photovoltaïques à concentration et leurs sous-composants photovoltaïques. L'objet est de définir un ensemble cohérent de conditions, de sorte que les rapports de puissance notés sur les fiches techniques et les plaques signalétiques aient une base de référence. Deux ensembles de conditions sont inclus pour caractériser:  a) les conditions de fonctionnement, et  b) les conditions d'essais.

Preskušanje zmogljivosti fotonapetostnega koncentratorja - 1. del: Standardni pogoji (IEC 62670-1:2013)

Standard EN IEC 62670-1 določa standardne pogoje za oceno moči, ki jo proizvedejo sistemi fotonapetostnih koncentratorjev in njihove fotonapetostne podkomponente. Cilj tega dela standarda IEC 62670 je določiti skladen sklop pogojev, da bodo imele nazivne moči na tehničnih listih in napisnih ploščicah standardno podlago. Dva sklopa pogojev sta namenjena opredelitvi: a) delovnih pogojev, ki predstavljajo zmogljivost na soncu glede na splošno izmerjene meteorološke pogoje, in b) preskusnih pogojev, ki predstavljajo zmogljivost, ko je modul v preprosto ponovljivem okolju.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
15-Jul-2014
ICS
27.160 - Solar energy engineering
Technical Committee
PVS - Solar photovoltaic energy systems
Current Stage
6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
Start Date
09-Jul-2014
Due Date
13-Sep-2014
Completion Date
16-Jul-2014
Ref Project
EN 62670-1:2014 - Photovoltaic concentrators (CPV) - Performance testing - Part 1: Standard conditions

Overview

SIST EN 62670-1:2014, issued by CLC and based on IEC 62670-1:2013, establishes standard conditions for performance testing of Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) systems and components. This standard ensures consistency in power rating assessments, enabling reliable comparison of CPV modules and systems by defining two primary sets of conditions: operating conditions and test conditions. By applying uniform testing parameters, the standard facilitates accurate power output measurements and supports the industry in product benchmarking and certification.

Key Topics

  • Standard Conditions Definition:
    SIST EN 62670-1:2014 specifies standardized environmental and irradiance parameters to assess CPV power output. The two main categories it defines are:

    • Concentrator Standard Operating Conditions (CSOC): Reflects real-world on-sun conditions with a focus on ambient temperature and wind speed, helping to characterize actual system operating performance.
    • Concentrator Standard Test Conditions (CSTC): Provides laboratory-style reproducible conditions for testing modules in controlled environments, specifying cell temperature and irradiance at the module level.

  • Irradiance and Spectrum Requirements:
    Both CSOC and CSTC use direct normal irradiance (DNI) with the AM1.5 spectrum reference as per IEC 60904-3, ensuring spectral consistency during testing.

  • Environmental Parameters:

    • CSOC sets ambient temperature at 20 °C, wind speed at 2 m/s, and irradiance at 900 W/m².
    • CSTC uses a cell temperature of 25 °C and irradiance of 1000 W/m², optimized for standardized indoor testing.

  • Tracking and Angle of Incidence Adjustment:
    DNI values should be corrected for angle of incidence especially for CPV devices using single-axis tracking systems to accurately reflect actual irradiance on the concentrator surface.

Applications

SIST EN 62670-1:2014 is essential for manufacturers, testers, and researchers working with CPV technologies by:

  • Standardizing Power Ratings: Ensuring power output data on datasheets and nameplates are consistent and comparable across manufacturers and product lines.
  • Supporting Product Development: Providing a clear framework for evaluating CPV module performance under both realistic and controlled conditions.
  • Enhancing Quality Control: Helping testing laboratories apply repeatable and internationally recognized conditions to verify product specifications.
  • Facilitating Certification and Compliance: Serving as a reference for conformity assessments and certification processes in the solar photovoltaic sector.
  • Enabling System Performance Analysis: Allowing system designers and operators to interpret and predict CPV system outputs relative to standardized irradiance and environmental conditions.

Related Standards

SIST EN 62670-1:2014 belongs to the IEC 62670 series which collectively addresses CPV performance testing:

  • IEC 62670-2: Specifies on-sun, measurement-based methods to determine energy output and performance ratios for CPV arrays and power plants.
  • IEC 62670-3: Details methods for power assessment under standard conditions in both indoor and outdoor environments.
  • IEC 60904-3: Provides the reference spectral irradiance data and measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic solar devices, which EN 62670-1 references for spectrum consistency.

By aligning with these interconnected standards, SIST EN 62670-1:2014 helps maintain an integrated approach to CPV performance evaluation, supporting advances in solar energy engineering and promoting international harmonization in the field.

Keywords: photovoltaic concentrators, CPV performance testing, standard conditions, power rating, direct normal irradiance, AM1.5 spectrum, CPV module testing, solar energy standards, IEC 62670, concentrator photovoltaic systems, solar power measurement.

Frequently Asked Questions

SIST EN 62670-1:2014 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) performance testing - Part 1: Standard conditions". This standard covers: IEC 62670-1:2013 defines standard conditions for assessing the power produced by CPV systems and their photovoltaic subcomponents. The object is to define a consistent set of conditions so that power ratings noted on data sheets and nameplates will have a standard basis. Two sets of conditions are included to characterize: a) operating conditions, and b) test conditions.

IEC 62670-1:2013 defines standard conditions for assessing the power produced by CPV systems and their photovoltaic subcomponents. The object is to define a consistent set of conditions so that power ratings noted on data sheets and nameplates will have a standard basis. Two sets of conditions are included to characterize: a) operating conditions, and b) test conditions.

SIST EN 62670-1:2014 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

SIST EN 62670-1:2014 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2014
Preskušanje zmogljivosti fotonapetostnega koncentratorja - 1. del: Standardni
pogoji (IEC 62670-1:2013)
Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) performance testing - Part 1: Standard conditions
Essai de performances des concentrateurs photovoltaïques (CPV) - Partie 1: Conditions
normales
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 62670-1:2014
ICS:
27.160 6RQþQDHQHUJLMD Solar energy engineering
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 62670-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2014
ICS 27.160
English Version
Photovoltaic concentrators (CPV) - Performance testing - Part 1:
Standard conditions
(IEC 62670-1:2013)
Essai de performances des concentrateurs photovoltaïques Konzentrator-Photovoltaik (CPV)-Leistungsmessung - Part
(CPV) - Partie 1: Conditions normales 1: Standardprüfbedingungen
(CEI 62670-1:2013) (IEC 62670-1:2013)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2013-10-30. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2014 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 62670-1:2014 E
Foreword
The text of document 82/734/CDV, future edition 1 of IEC 62670-1, prepared by IEC/TC 82 "Solar
photovoltaic energy systems" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 62670-1:2014.
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2014-11-23
• latest date by which the document has
to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2016-10-30
• latest date by which the national
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 62670-1:2013 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.

- 3 - EN 62670-1:2014
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant

EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60904-3 2008 Photovoltaic devices -- Part 3: EN 60904-3 2008
Measurement principles for terrestrial
photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with
reference spectral irradiance data

IEC 62670-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2013-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Photovoltaic concentrators (CPV) – Performance testing –

Part 1: Standard conditions
Concentrateurs photovoltaïques (CPV) – Essai de performances –

Partie 1: Conditions normales
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX F
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-1120-5

– 2 – 62670-1 © IEC:2013
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Standard conditions . 6

62670-1 © IEC:2013 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONCENTRATORS (CPV) –
PERFORMANCE TESTING –
Part 1: Standard conditions
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation o
...

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