Thornova Solar receives the Kiwa PVEL Top Performer award for its PERC module TS-BG72 (550), which achieved very good results across five categories.

Wuxi, 5 June 2024.- Sunova/Thornova are proud to announce that the bifacial PERC module TS-BG72 (550), equivalent to the Zosma M Pro 550, achieved top ratings across five accelerating stress tests conducted by Kiwa PVEL as part of its product qualification program (PQP). The accelerated tests included thermal cycling, damp heat, mechanical stress sequences, and light and elevated temperature-induced degradation (LETID).

"We're incredibly proud that our first module has demonstrated outstanding reliability and performance from Kiwa PVEL, a leading test lab," said William Sheng, CEO of Thornova Solar. "This result underlines our commitment to providing exceptional products to our customers. We will continue having further module types going through this tough testing procedure to show that the trust our current customers place in us continues to be justified and to convince other potential clients that your modules are an excellent choice for their large-scale projects in terms of reliability and durabilty.”

"Congratulations to Thornova Solar for receiving the Top Performer status for the 2024 Scorecard editions," commented Tristan Erion-Lorico, VP of sales and marketing at Kiwa PVEL. "As a newcomer to our PQP program we are impressed with the strong results achieved in 5 categories, which shows the company's commitment to provide high quality PV modules to its customers."

The thermal cycling test took place over 600 cycles with a characterization after every 200 cycles compared to only 50 and 200 cycles during IEC 61215-2016 test standards. The background of this test is to understand the effect of changing temperatures on the expansion and contraction of materials used in the PV module and their interfaces. The materials usually are mechanically stressed under different temperatures due to differences in coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE). Additionally, resistive heating from current flow increases local stresses at solder points and other electric interfaces. The Thornova Solar TS-BG72 (550) showed an average of -0.37% deviation in post stress change in Pmax related to the initial measurement after light soaking. The threshold set by Kiwa PVEL is a maximum of < -2% Pmax deviation. Hence, the Thornova Solar TS-BG72 (550) module shows very good performance under these severe thermal cycling test conditions. There were no findings during visual inspection after the test and the module continued to meet the wet leakage insulation resistant ICE 61215-1:2021 requirements, as well as passing electric circuitry testing.

In regards to damp heat testing at 85°C and 85% relative humidity (RH), which assesses the susceptibility to moisture ingress, delamination, and corrosion of a PV module and its materials, Kiwa PVEL allows for a maximum of <-2% of Pmax deviation after a damp heat test of two 1000-hour intervals or at total of 2000 hours, related to the initial measurement after light soaking. The IEC standard for module certification runs for only one-time 1000 hours. Here again, the bifacial Thornova Solar TS-BG72 (550) module proved its outstanding quality by showing only -1.41% average reduction of Pmax in post stress measurements. The test shows that a solar module passing the strict Kiva PVEL requirements is likely to maintain a thoroughly adhered package of different materials for safe operations over decades. Included in the test are junction box to backsheet, backsheet to EVA, EVA to cell, and EVA to glass interfaces.

As PV modules mounted in the fields are exposed to mechanical stress due to wind and snow loads, cyclic deflection can result in crack forming and propagating in the cells and solder joints. Hence, the mechanical stress sequence (MSS) evaluates the power loss that such a mechanical event can create over time. The tests start with a static mechanical load, followed by a dynamic mechanical load to which the module is subjected to for 50 thermal cycles and finishes with 10 humidity freeze cycles. Again, the threshold for passing the Kiva PVEL requirements is less than -2% Pmax deviation compared to pre-stress results of the initial measurement after light soaking. The tested Thornova Solar modules passed with a very good result of on average -0.63%.

The Thornova Solar module showed extremely low deviation of on average only 0.24% on the LETID stress tests that take place at 75°C and take 486 hours at Kiwa PVEL but only 162 hours for IEC 61215-2016 module certification. LETID is a phenomenon closely related to PERC cells and occurs when cells reach temperatures over 40°C during operation. These operating temperatures occur in hot environments and in temperate regions during periods of high irradiance on hot days.

In conclusion, the bifacial Thornova Solar TS-BG72 (550) PERC module, which is equivalent to Sunova Solar’s Zosma M Pro 550 module, clearly proves the high-quality material use and manufacturing process. The Top Performer award confirms the trust customers have had and continue to have in the Sunova/Thornova Solar products. Currently, our N-type modules are tested at Kiwa PVEL and we are looking forward to receiving good results on them, too.

For more information or the full report please contact your nearest sales office, our technical support team or Kiwa PVEL.

About Sunova / Thornova Solar
Sunova / Thornova Solar are Tier 1 module brands. The company focuses on energy solutions and the design and manufacture of renewable energy components, such as photovoltaic modules, solar cells, inverters, and solar battery storage solutions. Our R&D team focuses on constantly developing innovative solar technology for the distributed generation rooftop and utility-scale ground-mounted solar markets. With our state-of-the-art automated production facilities, we deliver the reliability and performance you and your customers expect. Our local warehousing and logistics support across the globe ensure your projects are installed on time, every time. Currently, Sunova / Thornova Solar operates 4 manufacturing plants in China and Vietnam and is building 2 more factories. By the end of 2024, we will have a fully opera­tional capacity of 10 GW of PV modules and 9 GW of solar cells. All our operations in China are located outside of the Xinjiang area.

For further information please contact
Andrea Bodenhagen
Global Branding Director
Andrea.bodenhagen@sunova-solar.com
Andrea.bodenhagen@thornovasolar.com
+49-1590-1621062
www.sunovathornova.com