SEMI International Standards
Standards New Activity Report Form (SNARF)
Date Prepared: 05/05/2015Revised (if Applicable):

Document Number: 5925
SNARF for: New Standard: Specification for Dual-glass Module with Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Solar Cell

Originating Global Technical Committee: Photovoltaic
Originating TC Chapter: China
Task Force (TF) in which work is to be carried out: PV Module 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.)
With the market demand of photovoltaic (PV) continuously increasing, customers require more and more advanced products in quality, reliability and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) than ever before. The organic polymer back sheets are applied in traditional PV modules, which will degrade inevitably after long-term use in the open air. As a result, the traditional modules show bad weather resistance, low insulation and low output power. Furthermore, traditional modules always apply to the system voltage of 700V and 1000V, which can’t satisfy market demand of PV any more. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to develop products with high quality, long serving life and easy installation. Now, the glasses which are made of inorganic materials are applied in the terrestrial dual-glass module with crystalline silicon solar cell (hereinafter referred to as dual-glass module). With the excellent properties of imperviousness and high weather resistance of these glasses, the dual-glass module won’t degrade after long-term use outside. In addition, aluminum frame has been abolished and the module doesn’t need to be grounded during practical application. Consequently, the phenomenon of PID will be avoided structurally.
The dual-glass module design is strong enough to greatly reduce assembly costs and BOS costs by eliminating the aluminum frames and grounding cost. Therefore, dual-glass module provides a wide solution for all applications: residential, commercial and utility scale, which can achieve the same application of traditional module. It is also superior in terms of reliability and cost, and creates more value for the company and customers. Furthermore, the dual-glass module can retain the reliability with the system voltage of 1500V. That is, compared with the traditional module, the BOS cost of dual-glass module, such as DC cables and controllers, will reduces and the line loss will also decline in the transmission process which helps to improve the power generation. Thus the LCOE will be reduced generally. Therefore, it is imperative to strongly promote the dual-glass module.
Compared with the traditional module, dual-glass module possesses some great properties, such as high efficiency, high reliability, high load carrying capacity, and low cost. Moreover, the dual-glass module not only fits the hot and humid environments, but also has the properties of acid and alkali resistance and salt spray resistant. Recently, the demand of the dual-glass module is growing. Therefore, it is completely necessary to establish a unified standard “Dual-glass module with crystalline silicon terrestrial solar cell” to regulate the manufacture, sell, acceptance check and use of dual-glass module.


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: Module manufactory, PV System

c. Estimate technical difficulty of the activity.
II: Some Difficulty - Disagreements on known requirements exist but developing consensus is possible

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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:
Terrestrial dual-glass module with crystalline silicon solar cell (hereinafter referred to as dual-glass module) consists of super thin strengthened glasses on both sides and the crystalline silicon solar cell composition units connected in series or parallel are between the glasses. The dual-glass module is encapsulated by film, such as EVA, PVB. As a result, the dual-module is harder to degrade outside than traditional module which uses organic materials as component. And the application of new materials also avoids such problems of thin-film PV modules as easy damageable and low conversion.
This dual-glass module can not only afford the system voltage of 1500V, but also possesses high efficiency, high reliability, high load carrying capacity, and low cost. Moreover, it can fit the hot and humid environments and also has the properties of acid and alkali resistance and salt spray resistant. This standard of “Terrestrial dual-glass module with crystalline silicon solar cell” provides some basic information of dual-glass module to regulate the specification, such as definition, category, nomenclature, test method, technology regulation, symbol, package, transportation, store and so on.

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:
Specification

Miscellaneous (describe below):

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3. Projected Timetable for Completion:

a: General Milestones
a. Activity Start: 07/31/2015b. 1st Draft by: 03/01/2016
c. (Optional) Informational Ballot by: d. Letter Ballot by: 07/01/2017
e. TC Chapter Approval By:12/01/2017

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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.)
Photovoltaic Materials 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 (PV) - Materials
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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; 06/01/2015
Member Review End Date: 06/14/2015

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 GCS07/31/2015
Recorded in TC Minutes08/14/2015

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