DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions recently co-hosted a workshop with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a not-for-profit company dedicated to solar energy in India.

The focus of the workshop was on helping India successfully reach its goal of installing 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar energy capacity by 2022, and the critical role of quality standards to help ensure the safety, reliability and profitability of solar projects in the country.

“As contributors to India’s solar mission, participants across the solar value chain need to ensure that solar installations are able to reliably produce power for 25 years or more to ensure the return on investments that system owners and investors expect,” said Rajaram Pai, business leader, DuPont Electronics & Communications, South Asia.

During the workshop, policy makers and industry experts discussed typical failures observed in solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, current codes and standards and how to improve the reliability and durability of solar installations. The experts identified gaps, shared learnings and best practices for protecting return on investments and lowering the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE).

“Establishment of uniform standards and quality standards is a continuing area of focus in India’s story of solar development for long term sustenance,” said Ashvini Kumar, managing director, SECI.

“International standards, including International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, need to be consciously adapted to suit our climatic and operational conditions to mitigate risks such as permanent power degradation, panel failures, or electrical safety issues.”

Recommendations from the various interactions at the workshop will be submitted in a report to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to help them improve quality standards for solar projects in India going forward.