SEMI International Standards
Standards New Activity Report Form (SNARF)
Date Prepared: 07/15/2012Revised (if Applicable):

Document Number: 5478
SNARF for: New Standard: Test Method for Thin-film Silicon PV Modules Light Soaking

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

___________________________________________________________________________
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.)
Thin-film silicon PV modules have long-term light-induced degradation performance caused by the Staebler-Wronski effect. The current standard for stabilization in Amorphous silicon thin-film PV modules is IEC 61646 (Module output power <2% change after successive 43 kW/m2 exposure periods.) According to the IEC standard, light soaking time less than 200 hours is usually sufficient for 1 kW/m2 intensity. However, abundant field and experimental data shows that for many thin-film silicon PV modules, stabilized power cannot be achieved in such a short time and power will continue to degrade, and a longer light soaking time is necessary to determine the module’s stabilized output power. Additionally, light soaking temperature, spectrum, and electric load also have a great impact on the stabilized power value.

In order to obtain an accurate module stabilized output power value, a new standard specific to thin film silicon solar modules needs to be established.


b. Estimate effect on industry.
2: Major effect on an industry sector - identify the relevant sector
Sector or Company Information:

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

___________________________________________________________________________
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 will be developed to determine the light-induced degradation performance of thin film PV modules caused by the Staebler-Wronski effect.

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):

___________________________________________________________________________
3. Projected Timetable for Completion:

a: General Milestones
a. Activity Start: 08/10/2012b. 1st Draft by: 02/10/2013
c. (Optional) Informational Ballot by: d. Letter Ballot by: 05/10/2013
e. TC Chapter Approval By:09/10/2013

_____________________________________________________________________________
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.)
China Crystalline Silicon PV Module Task Force
Europe PV Silicon Materials Task Force
Japan PV Materials Task Force
Int’l Analytical Test Methods Task Force
PV Electrical and Optical Properties Task Force

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 not be issued

Identify the recipient global technical committee(s):

___________________________________________________________________________
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.

___________________________________________________________________________
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):
there is no known material patented technology necessary to use or implement the 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.

___________________________________________________________________________
7. Comments, Special Circumstances:
None.

__________________________________________________________________________
8. TC Member Review:
is not required for this SNARF.

Member Review Start Date; None.
Member Review End Date: None.

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)
__________________________________________________________________________

9. SNARF Approval Dates:
TC Chapter or GCS08/10/2012
Recorded in TC Minutes08/15/2012

__________________________________________________________________________

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