IEC Revises Reference Solar Device Standard - IEC 60904-2

May 11, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

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The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) issued the second edition of its standard for reference solar devices.

IEC 60904-2 - Requirements for reference solar devices - Part 2, replaces the previous edition of 1989, which was amended in 1998, and IEC 60904-6 - Requirements for reference solar modules, which was amended in 1994.

Essentially a technical revision, the main changes concern:

• Calibration traceability.
• Construction differentiating the various types of reference devices.
• Additional guidance on the use of built-in shunt resistors.
• Increased data sheet requirements.
• Calibration of working solar reference devices.

The IEC standard is used for classifying, selecting, packaging, marking, calibrating and caring for solar devices that are used as reference devices in determining the electrical performance of solar cells, modules and arrays under natural and simulated sunlight.

Technical Committee (TC) 82 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Systems is responsible for the publication.

The TC, which was established in 1981, is one of several committees concerned with renewable energies. The scope is particularly broad, since the area of PVs includes the entire field of sun-converted energy, from light input through to solar cells, including the interface that is used in conjunction with the electrical system to which the energy is supplied.

PV systems represent an effective and reliable source of renewable energy when selecting an alternative to fossil fuel in both grid-connected and remote off-grid areas because their operation has very little impact on the environment since they create no waste or residue and because they have no moving parts, said the IEC.

Over the last few years the PV industry grew at a steady rate of more than 25% per annum with a global market demand of more than $5 billion U.S. dollar (USD) and recent recognition of the industrial potential of usage and integration in production facilities.

Source: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).