Government Agency, Businesses Establish Research Alliance for Highly Reliable Solar Panels

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The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) of Japan and 31 companies established on October 1, 2009, a consortium for the development and evaluation of highly reliable photovoltaic (PV) modules it was announced on October 21. The research will be undertaken by the consortium until March 31, 2011.

In order to reduce the cost of photovoltaic power generation to the same level as that of the conventional grid-system power generation, it is necessary to enhance the reliability and usage lifetime of PV modules. The consortium will study peripheral devices of PV modules, which control the reliability and the lifetime of the modules. The AIST research center and 31 companies, mainly chemicals and parts manufacturers, will jointly produce a PV module using new components and structures, and examine the effectiveness of these components and structures.

Testing and research of the modules will be conducted using equipment that fabricate and evaluate small-sized PV module prototypes, in the AIST Tsukuba Center. The results from systematic studies will also be used to develop a database. The consortium will also examine how extended outdoor exposure affects PV modules by analyzing the results of a long-term outdoor test and an accelerated aging test. Furthermore, through this joint research, the consortium expects to establish a network in the science community and thereby help foster young researchers in the industry.

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) official website
http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html

Posted: 2010/01/31 06:00:15 AM