Unsw Researchers Warn Of Surprising Topcon Solar Module Vulnerabilities
Researchers at the University of New South Wales claim to have identified three TOPCon panel failure types that are
PV Magazine International 5:44 am on May 5, 2024
Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia have identified three new failure modes in TOPCon solar modules that were absent from PERC technology. These failures, referred to as Type-1, Type-2, and Type-3, can lead to power losses ranging from 5% to 70%.
- Type-1: Found in TOPCon modules encapsulated with ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyolefin (PO), this failure mode is attributed to contaminants present on the cells before encapsulation.
- Type-2: Observed in TOPCon modules encapsulated with PO, this failure starts at the interconnection point and spreads to the surrounding cell area after extended Damp Heat (DH) testing.
- Type-3: Found in TOPCon modules encapsulated with PO, it's believed that an electrochemical reaction between cell metallization, moisture, soldering flux, and critical elements released caused this failure.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/04/29/unsw-researchers-warn-of-surprising-topcon-solar-module-vulnerabilities/