SEMI International Standards
Standards New Activity Report Form (SNARF)
Date Prepared: 02/15/2016Revised (if Applicable):

Document Number: 6016
SNARF for: New Standard: Test Method for Exposure Durability of PV Cells to Acetic Acid Vapor

Originating Global Technical Committee: Photovoltaic (PV) - Materials
Originating TC Chapter: Japan
Task Force (TF) in which work is to be carried out: Japan PV Materials Task Force
Note: If a new task force is needed, also submit a task force organization form (TFOF)

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1. Rationale:
a. Describe the need or problem addressed by this activity.
(Indicate the customer, what benefits they will receive, and if possible, quantify the impact on the return on investment [ROI] if the Document is implemented.)
In crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV modules installed in the fields, current collection failure caused by corrosion in finger electrodes of PV cells has been recognized as a major degradation incident induced by ambient hygrothermal stress in long term. The corrosion has been understood to result from acetic acid liberated from module material and penetrated damp from the ambient. In order to evaluate the module durability to this stress, damp heat (DH) stress test has been developed and deployed. However, the current DH test, intended not only for cells but also for modules, requires thousands of hours to complete. Instead of the DH test, a test method is proposed, which is to directly expose cells to acetic acid vapor and is able to reduce the test period down to several ten hours. By the standardization of this test procedure, PV cell/module manufactures and material companies will have a common method to evaluate durability of PV cells and properties of materials used for cell fabrication effectively and efficiently at less cost and time.


b. Estimate effect on industry.
1: Major effect on entire industry or on multiple important industry sectors - identify the relevant sectors
Sector or Company Information:

c. Estimate technical difficulty of the activity.
I: No Difficulty - Proven concepts and techniques exist or quick agreement is anticipated

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2. Scope:
a: Describe the technical areas to be covered or addressed by this Document development activity. For Subordinate Standards, list common concepts or criteria that the Subordinate Standard inherits from the Primary Standard, as well as differences from the Primary Standard:
This standard defines the test method for exposure durability of PV cells to acetic acid vapor, including durability measurement tool setup and suggestions in interpreting measurement results.

b: Expected result of activity
New Standard or Safety Guideline (including replacement of an existing Standard or Safety Guideline)

For a new Subordinate Standard, identify the Primary Standard here:




For Standards, identify the Standard Subtype below:
Test Method

Miscellaneous (describe below):

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3. Projected Timetable for Completion:

a: General Milestones
a. Activity Start: 02/15/2016b. 1st Draft by: 09/30/2016
c. (Optional) Informational Ballot by: d. Letter Ballot by: 11/30/2016
e. TC Chapter Approval By:03/31/2017

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4. Liaisons with other Global Technical Committees/TC Chapters/Subcommittees/TFs:
a. List SEMI global technical committees, TC Chapters, subcommittees, or task forces in your or other Regions/Locales that should be kept informed regarding the progress of this activity. (Refer to SEMI Standards organization charts and global technical committee charters and scopes as needed.)
PV Committee

b. List any planned Type I Liaisons with external nonprofit organizations (e.g., SDO) that should receive Draft Documents from Standards staff for feedback during this activity and be notified when the Letter Ballot is issued (refer to Procedure Manual § 7):


c. Intercommittee Ballots:
will be issued – identify the recipient global technical committee(s):

Identify the recipient global technical committee(s):
Photovoltaic
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5. Safety Considerations:
The resulting document is expected:
NOT to be a Safety Guideline

NOTE FOR "to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is NOT technically sound and complete - Refer to Section 15.1 of the Regulations for special procedures to be followed.

NOTE FOR "NOT to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is still technically sound and complete.

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6. Intellectual Property Considerations:
Note: Both a: and b: below should be checked for Revision of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s).

a. For a new Standard or Safety Guideline and for any part to be modified or added in a Revision of published Standards and Safety Guidelines:
the use of patented technology is NOT required.

If "patented technology is intended to be included in the proposed Standard(s) or Safety Guideline(s) " is selected above, then also check one:


b. For Revision, Reapproval, Reinstatement, or Withdrawal of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s):


c. The body of the Document and any Appendices, Complementary Files, Related Information sections, or Various Materials that may or may not be a part of the Document by reference:
will NOT include reproduced copyrighted material



NOTE FOR ‘the use of patented technology or the incorporation of Copyrighted Item(s) is NOT required’: If in the course of developing the Document, it is determined that the use of patented technology or Copyrighted Item(s) is necessary for the Document, the provisions of Regulations § 16 must be followed.

NOTE FOR ’will incorporate Copyrighted Item’: A copyright release letter must be obtained from the copyright owner prior to publication.

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7. Comments, Special Circumstances:
None.

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8. TC Member Review:
took place between (put dates below ) before approval at the TC Chapter Meeting, or

Member Review Start Date; 03/22/2016
Member Review End Date: 04/04/2016

NOTE FOR ‘TC Member Review’ is required by the Regulations for a period of at least two weeks
before approval of a new, or a major revision of an existing, Standard or Safety Guideline. (Refer to Regulations ¶ 8.2.1)
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9. SNARF Approval Dates:
TC Chapter or GCS04/18/2016
Recorded in TC Minutes04/18/2016

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10. SNARF Extension Dates:
TC Chapter Extension Granted on
Extension Expires on