Previous standard measuring devices for solar modules - so-called flashers, which generate a flash and bring white light to the modules for milliseconds - only allow data collection for a short moment and only display the sun's light spectrum with deviations. This means that no test conditions beyond the norm, such as light at different times of day, can be displayed. With the module flasher from the company WAVELABS Metrology Systems GmbH, Fraunhofer CSP now has a device that can simulate sunlight much better from many different colored LED light sources with 18 displayable colors. This is a great advantage for a more precise performance analysis. The duration of illumination can also be electronically regulated from one millisecond to over hours for future measurements. In addition to the measuring speed, the illumination intensity can be freely selected between 0.1 and 1.2 times the solar radiation in order to determine exact characteristic values for the expected current yield of complete PV modules in the open field.  

"In long-term operation, modules can change their output depending on the incidence of light. We can measure these light soaking and degradation effects realistically with this device," says Dr. Marko Turek, scientist at Fraunhofer CSP.

The LED module flasher enables precise performance tests to map the aging processes and yield scenarios of solar modules in special measurements. "With the new system at Fraunhofer CSP, we can perform our performance analyses on modules in different light spectra for the first time and even establish novel, large-scale quantum efficiency measurements. This gives us even better possibilities for material and material analysis for our customers and our project partners," concludes Dr. Marko Turek.