De-risking Bifacial - A Path to Bankability - DNV GL, Tristan Erion-Lorico

DNV GL ©2018 DNV GL © 2018 SAFER, SMARTER, GREENER DNV GL © 2018 De-risking Bifacial – A Path to Bankability Tristan Erion-Lorico Head of PV Module Business, DNV GL – Energy Labs October 23, 2018DNV GL ©2018 2 2 DNV GL: a quality assurance and risk management company DNV GL: a quality assurance and risk management company DNV GL in the energy industry 2500 2,300 energy experts in wind, solar, grids, storage and energy management 30 30 offices in 30 countries in every continent 90 90 years experience in the power industry, including 40 years in wind energy and energy management and more than 20 years in solarDNV GL ©2018 3 10GW GPM, a DNV GL company, manages 10GW of solar PV plants, which includes 15 mega-plants of over 100MW each 6000+ We have supported over 6,000 solar projects worldwide from residential to utility scale 5000+ More than 5,000 financiers, developers and power producers rely on DNV GL’s annual PV Module Reliability Scorecard to inform buying decisions 2016 DNV GL acquires GreenPowerMonitor (GPM), a global solar monitoring company, founded in 2006 in Barcelona, Spain 2014 DNV GL acquires solar panel testing expert PVEL, based in California, USDNV GL ©2018 Broad and deep expertise in solar projects 4 FEASIBILITY ENGINEERING & DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION & COMMISSIONING OPERATION ❯ Feasibility studies ❯ Utility grid integration ❯ Environmental permitting ❯ Component technology reviews ❯ Component qualification testing ❯ Type and component certification of PV inverters ❯ Due diligence / Independent engineering ❯ Owner’s engineering ❯ Energy assessment ❯ Pre-construction engineering ❯ Interconnection support ❯ Project certification ❯ Due diligence/ Independent engineering ❯ Owner s engineering ❯ Construction oversight ❯ System testing and inspection ❯ Project certification and grid code compliance ❯ Declaration of conformity ❯ Module batch testing ❯ Project certification ❯ Performance validation ❯ Resource and energy forecasting ❯ Existing asset consulting, inspections and decommissioning ❯ Refinancing and mergers and acquisitions advisory services ❯ Forensic investigations ❯ Monitoring, control and asset management ❯ Project certification *Our testing, certification and advisory services are independent from each otherDNV GL ©2018 History of bifacial (some examples) Bell Labs, 1954 Russian Satellites, 1974 Along Swiss Roadways, 1998 1.25 MW FT, 2013 (Japan) 20 kW at PVUSA, 1989 2.5 MW, 2015 (Chile) 100 MW, 2018 (China) 10+ MW Rooftop, 2017 (USA) 5 2 MW SAT, 2007 (USA)DNV GL ©2018 Bifacial Uncertainties Bifacial Modules represent the largest step function improvement in project economics for minimal technology risk since the introduction of trackers. - Jenya Meydbray, Cypress Creek RenewablesDNV GL ©2018 Modelling bifacial systems presents new uncertainties  Well accepted methodology for Energy Modeling is a significant hurdle with bifacial systems  Just some of the examples of the complexities: – Albedo: spectrum, time of day, seasonality, site uniformity – Back side IAM – Mismatch – View factor and obstructions – Portrait vs. landscape – Snow shedding and rear soiling – Tracking algorithms – Torque tube shape and size – Module to module spacing and GCR – DC:AC ratios 7 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% 140% 160% 12:00 AM 6:00 AM 12:00 PM 6:00 PM 12:00 AM POA -1 /POA(%) May June July August September October November December January February March April 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% 140% 160% 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 POA -1 /POA(%) Irradiance(W/m 2 ) May June July August September October November December January February March April Albedo by Ground Cover Source: ISC Konstanz Albedo Seasonality and Time of Day Data Source: DNV GLDNV GL ©2018 Bifacial module reliability and characterization concerns  glass//glass construction offers better theoretical mechanical performance – bowing has been observed in installations – semi-hermetic design avoids moisture ingress, but presents risk of delamination since the backsheet is not “breathing”  LID different on the front and back?  LeTID risks with PERC cells?  Bifacial module characterization and power rating lacking industry agreement  Bifaciality differs by cell technology  Front-side efficiency drop vs. white backsheet  Issues that are yet unknown??? 8 Glass//Glass Module Defects Source: Dupont Bifaciality by Cell Type Source: ISC KonstanzDNV GL ©2018 Bifacial Module Testing – In LabDNV GL ©2018 DNV GL’s Energy Lab’s Product Qualification Program (PQP) Overview 10 Sign up for PQPtesting Share Reports Provide ActiveSupport Sign waiverto sharereports Sign NDA-style Proposal 50 PV equip manufacturers 300 Module BOMs 300 in thenetwork 30GW/y of buying power The PQPs provide PV equipment buyers and power plant investors with independent and consistent reliability and performance data to support implementation of an effective supplier management process. They also provide independent recognition to equipment manufacturers who outpace their competitors in product quality and durability. PV Component Manufacturers (modules, inverters, storage) Downstream PartnersDNV GL ©2018 2018 Module PQP 11  Specific to bifacial modules: – Modules are characterized following the guidance of IEC TS 60904-1-2 at both pre and post stress. – PAN files included measured “bifaciality” for use in PVsyst.  Bifacial PQP projects have already started! – Results will be made available to Downstream Partners, and more generally shared in the 2019 PV Module Reliability Scorecard.  2019 Module PQP may include more bifacial-specific updates.DNV GL ©2018 One problem solved? Bifacial flash testing and characterization  Due for final release in Jan. 2019, technical specification: IEC TS 60904-1-2  Bifacial modules’ nameplates will be marked with bifaciality, Pmax BiFi100 and Pmax BiFi200  To determine bifaciality the main I-V characteristics of the front and the rear sides must be measured at STC with a background that causes the irradiance to not exceed 3 W/m 2 at any point on the non-exposed side.  Pmax BiFi100 and Pmax BiFi200 report the module output at an effective rear irradiance of 100 W/m 2 and 200 W/m 2 . This can be determined using the measured bifaciality and increased irradiance on front-side only flashes. – For example, a module with bifaciality of 𝜑𝜑 =80% must be irradiated on the front side at 1160 W/m 2 to provide the output equivalence of 1000 W/m 2 front side plus 200 W/m 2 back side irradiance. 12 Source: Mayer Burger, bifiPV workshop, 2018 DNV GL ©2018 Bifacial Module Testing – OutdoorsDNV GL ©2018 DNV GL’s 1500V Bifacial Comparative Energy Yield 14  Designed with input from DNV GL IE Group, utility-scale developers and investors, and module manufacturers – 1500V strings: monofacial and bifacial – Single axis trackers from top manufacturer – 0.35 GCR – Two albedos for one year – Grass/dirt – White stones/materials – Four top tier module manufacturers – Edge effect measurements – Fully instrumented with highly granular data acquisition  Secondary study being considered – Four additional module types or manufacturers  Initial results to be announced at Intersolar Munich and SNEC, with final results published by DNV GL for industry use.DNV GL ©2018 SAFER, SMARTER, GREENER www.dnvgl.com The trademarks DNV GL ® , DNV ® , the Horizon Graphic and Det Norske Veritas ® are the properties of companies in the Det Norske Veritas group. All rights reserved. Thank you! 15 Tristan Erion-Lorico Tristan.Erion-Lorico@dnvgl.com +1-416-576-3829