Mahindra Susten launches India’s first Mobile PV Testing Lab

Mahindra Susten, a solar EPC company, has announced the launch of India’s first mobile PV laboratory for testing of the solar PV modules on site. The mobile PV lab, developed in-house, has an innovative design, which combines all the key tests required for PV modules in a compact lab. This solution will make world-class

testing facilities available to solar asset developers, EPCs and the O&M operators at the location of their own plant.

PV modules account for around 70 per cent of the capex for a solar PV plant, and underperformance of the modules can be the single largest reason why an asset owner’s (lenders) financial model and actual cash flows may not match. Early detection can lead to immediate control of losses or redressal. The role of the PV testing lab is critical across the life cycle of the solar PV plant, right from construction to the end of life.

Speaking about the launch, Basant Jain, CEO, Mahindra Susten, said, “The PV lab will allow the
asset owners to check the performance of the PV modules over their lifetime and take immediate corrective action to improve generation, in case of under-performance.”

There are various stages at which the Mobile PV solution can be implemented:
Pre-construction: Testing the landed delivery of module containers on-site for any damages during manufacturing, transportation or unloading. This could be used to eliminate faulty modules, in addition they can be also used to claim warranty for damaged modules or even transport insurance.

During construction: On-site testing of the connected modules on the Tables to identify any damages during installation or on-field PV module movement. The same can be used to levy LD on the installers and to identify damaged modules early-on.

During O&M: The combination of the on-field IV Curve tracing, Thermography, EL test and the Flash testing, enables conclusive detection of any under-performance of the modules. Hence, allowing for replacement of the degraded modules immediately and at the same time claiming warranty – giving higher returns both in terms of performance as well as spares.