Stress test and energy performance characterization

The service addresses the need for thorough testing and validation of BIPV products, specifically focusing on their long-term stability and performance under various environmental conditions. It provides essential data on degradation, efficiency, and durability, helping manufacturers optimize designs for real-world applications, such as façades and rooftops.

Design of Experiments

Indoor and Outdoor Shadowing Tests: Evaluating performance under partial shading in both controlled and natural environments.

Outdoor Performance Test: Monitoring long-term energy output and stability in real-world conditions.

Product Characterizations: Pre- and post-test IV curve measurements and thermal imaging to analyze efficiency and detect hotspots during testing.

Outdoor tests of HeliaFilm modules

Indoor tests of HeliaFilm modules

Image of HeliaFilm thermal Characterization

Results

The HeliaSol tests highlighted:

Indoor Performance: With 20% shading by solar masks with 0% transmittance, the panels retained significant power, dropping from 5.2W to 2.7W, showcasing efficiency under limited light conditions.

Outdoor Adaptability: In outdoor tests, vertical shading led to a 24% reduction in power output, and horizontal shading caused a 35% decrease, demonstrating the panels’ adaptability to environmental variations.

Consistent Outdoor Efficiency: HeliaSol panels consistently delivered a 5.81% efficiency in outdoor environments, proving their stable and reliable performance.

Rigorous Characterization: Comprehensive evaluations under both indoor and outdoor conditions, including thermal tests, showed the panels performing well even with temperatures exceeding 50°C

IV curve at maximum power output and daily weather data plots for a large HeliaFilm panel installed vertically, simulating a real-world, south-facing building facade installation.

Conclusion

The testing and validation of Heliatek’s HeliaFilm product offered valuable insights into its performance across different environmental conditions and outdoor exposure. The tests emphasized the durability and energy output of the product, particularly in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications. These findings confirm HeliaFilm’s effectiveness as a sustainable energy solution, meeting the necessary standards for long-term efficiency and reliability in nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs).