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Home > Research Areas > Photovoltaic Solar Energy > Action Areas and Infrastructures > Photovoltaic Module Test Laboratory (LEMF)

Photovoltaic Module Test Laboratory (LEMF)

The LEMF is a laboratory accredited by the ENAC (Spanish National Accreditation Entity) to perform tests corresponding to standard UNE-EN61215:2005 and “CENER Electrical Safety Model for Photovoltaic Modules” (ENAC accreditation proceedings No. 355/LE 996). It is also in the process of achieving accreditation to perform tests according to other standards that also affect photovoltaic modules.

The LEMF is also a member of the IECEE certifying scheme and is acknowledged as a Certification Body Testing Laboratory (CBTL) for PV modules. AENOR is the preferential certification body, but it can also work with other certification organisations.


Current accreditations

  • IEC 61215 : 2005: “Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules. Design qualification and type approval” (with the exception of section 10.4 outdoors)
  • CENER Electrical Safety Method” according to:
    • IEC 61730-1:04, Section 9
    • IEC 61730-2: 04, Sections 10-1, 10-2, 103, 10-4, 10-5, 10-6
    • IEC 61215:05, Section 10.15
    • UL1703, vers. 15 March 2002, Section 30

Future accreditations

The CENER Photovoltaic Module Test Laboratory has also planned to obtain ENAC accreditations to perform tests on other regulations for which it already has the equipment and sufficiently characterised test processes:

  • Test according to UNE-EN-61646:1997: Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules. Design qualification and type approval.
  • Concentration module test (IEC-62108, regulation whose 9th draft is currently being voted upon)
  • IEC-61701: Saline mist corrosion testing of photovoltaic modules.

As a recurrent service, the LEMF has also defined some Protocols for the Characterisation of Photovoltaic Modules. The most normal ones are:

  • Initial assessment of photovoltaic modules: basic characterisation via inspection, maximum power measurement and study of dry and wet insulation.
  • Extended characterisation of photovoltaic modules: which includes the previous tests and specific studies on behaviour at different irradiances and temperatures, including calculation of power, voltage and current temperature coefficients.
  • Static verification of the output power of a population of photovoltaic modules.

In addition to the complete certification tests, the LEMF also performs tests corresponding to individual test phases of the regulation and “made-to-measure” tests are defined to assess prototypes or process modifications applied in the mass production stages.

Apart from these activities, the LEMF participates in national and international research projects and it regularly carries out measures to compare its results with other prestigious laboratories in the field of PVSE.


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