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PVcomB

Expertise & Equipment

Outdoor Test Lab for lab-scaled solar cells and full-size PV modules

Our outdoor test lab enables comparative performance and stability studies across the full scale spectrum — from lab-scale solar cells (<1 cm²) to industrial full-size PV modules. The outdoor lab was established in 2016.

  • Focus areas: Performance, long-term stability and reliability testing of different solar-cell materials, especially perovskite based solar cells (single- and multi-junction) and modules. 
  • Solar cell monitoring:
    • MPP tracking and in-situ IV-curve measurements
    • Flexible orientation:  Optimal (35°, South), BIPV / façade (90°), Agrivoltaics (90°, East/West with bifacial cells).
  • Environment monitoring:
    • Irradiance, using pyranometers and reference Si sensors (plane-of-array, global and diffuse/direct irradiance)
    • Spectral irradiance (plane-of-array)
    • Device under test and ambient temperature
    • Relative humidity, air pressure and wind speed
  • Data access: Publications + shared upon request.

PV System Monitoring & Fault Detection

We specialize in extracting actionable insights from real-world PV plant data using advanced statistical and machine learning methods. We help ensure solar assets operate at peak efficiency and deliver sustainable, reliable energy over their lifetime. Our approach covers:

  • Holistic system analysis: Monitoring data from PV modules, inverters, and balance-of-system components
  • Early fault detection: Identifying underperformance, soiling, degradation, or failures before they cause significant losses
  • Optimization support: Enabling predictive maintenance and performance improvement through continuous analysis
  • Method innovation: Developing novel, scalable algorithms tailored to large-scale, diverse PV datasets

BIPV & BAPV: Integration of Solar

Building-integrated (BIPV) and building-applied (BAPV) photovoltaics demand solutions that balance power yield, form, and function. Our research addresses:

  • Design-performance trade-offs: How size, shape, color, and orientation affect energy output
  • Vertical & façade-specific conditions: Temperature, ventilation, and shading effects on CIGS, perovskite and crystalline Si modules
  • Innovative integration concepts:
    • PV-green façade hybrids
    • Concrete-integrated solar elements
    • Custom-shaped, colored, or translucent modules
  • Case Study: Our living lab for BIPV in Berlin-Adlershof features a 380 m² blue-tinted CIGS façade with 120+ sensing points, enabling detailed analysis of:
    • Rear-side ventilation & module temperature dynamics
    • Impact of microclimate on long-term performance
    • BIPV-specific degradation mechanisms

Energy System Design: Pathways to a Sustainable Grid

We contribute to the “Helmholtz Program Energy System Design (ESD)” by investigating the interplay of technology, society, and policy in the energy transition. 

Circularity and sustainability assessment:

  • We conduct environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment of PV, sustainable fuel, battery, and novel catalyst systems to evaluate the potential of these systems to contribute to climate goals and sustainable development.
  • Circularity assessment enhances the sustainability assessments to identify pathways toward maximum alignment with Circular Economy principles and goals.
  • By incorporating integrated assessments early in the material and technology design phases, innovation pathways that deliver optimal sustainability and circularity across complete life cycles can be identified and analysed to guide further research.

Reliability Testing: Validating Durability Under Harsh Conditions

At HZB-PVcomB, we support robustness assessment of solar cells, modules, and encapsulants via:

  • Climate stress chambers:
    • Humidity & thermal cycling: Controlled humidity (up to 85% RH), temperature (–40 °C to +85 °C), and light intensity
    • UV aging: UV-A exposure to simulate solar radiation-induced degradation
    • Thermal cycling: Rapid transitions between extreme temperatures
  • Heat soaking: Long-duration elevated-temperature tests
  • Long-term MPP tracking: Under constant illumination (e.g., 1-sun, 85°C bias)
  • Combinatorial protocols: Custom test sequences (e.g., damp heat → thermal cycling → UV)
  • Post-test analysis: Optical/electrical characterization via the Corelab facilities & access info

ReadyPV: Get access to our infrastructure, data and training

Interested? Within the project ReadyPV you can access our facilities!