Christopher Flueckiger: PV Polymeric Standards and Long-Term Thermal Aging

Underwriters Laboratories works with the photovoltaic industry to develop scientifically based material requirements to improve stakeholders' confidence in the reliability and durability of PV modules, components and systems. This presentation provides an overview of a select part of UL's work addressing polymeric materials.

Emphasis will be placed on backskin degradation and lifetime modeling. Other topics will include test method advances in relative thermal index (RTI) determination, dielectric testing to improve reproducibility, edge seal and encapsulant glass-on-glass adhesion measurements, current tracking index measurements for encapsulants, and more.

Christopher Flueckiger is the Principal Engineer for Renewable Energy at Underwriters Laboratories. Chris joined UL in 2000 working in the Power Distribution, Medical, and ITE groups. His current PDE responsibilities include solar energy systems, solar thermal, solar balance of system devices, and photovoltaics with close collaboration and global lead reviewer responsibilities for inverters, wind turbines, and other renewable energy systems.