Trina solar panels cleared for use in offshore installs, marine settings

Chinese solar PV manufacturer Trina Solar has secured third-party certification for the use of its Vertex solar modules in marine settings.

German testing and certification firm TÜV Rheinland published this week its offshore photovoltaic test report for Trina Solar’s Vertex modules, which included tests for saltwater immersion and salt mist corrosion, among others.

Offshore solar PV plants must endure a host of challenges unknown to their landbound kin, having to survive high temperatures and humidity; strong winds, waves, and rain; and salt mist and corrosion.

Trina Solar’s Vertex modules passed all tests with flying colours, demonstrating the solar modules’ ability to withstand extreme environments throughout their entire lifespan.

Among the reliability tests conducted was saltwater immersion (48h) +PID (+ and -, 192h, 95%RH85℃), static mechanical load, dynamic mechanical load (1000 cycles, 1000 Pa), TC50, HP10, DH2000, and salt mist corrosion (IEC 60068-2-52, severity 8).

In addition to being able to survive offshore, Trina’s Vertex modules have passed five other rigorous tests including for non-uniform snow load, extreme-low temperature, hail, and extreme winds.