Kiwa PVEL at Intersolar EU
News and events
Kiwa PVEL in BloombergNEF
March 2025. The BloombergNEF report assesses the bankability of PV module and inverter manufacturers by analyzing their financial health, operational track record, and warranty performance. Contributions from Kiwa PVEL's extended-reliability testing are featured throughout this year's report. Learn more.
Access the PVRW 2025 Presentations
Mar 4-6, 2025. Kiwa PVEL's team presented at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's annual Photovoltaic Reliability Workshop (PVRW) 2025. Read more and access the presentations.
Mitigating Hail Damage to PV Solar Panels
February 20, 2025. Read more about "Mitigating Hail Damage to PV Solar Panels" from Chubb Insurance, with contributions from Kiwa PVEL's Hail Stress Sequence testing.
Intersolar India 2025
February 13, 2025. Kiwa PVEL's Sishir Garemella presented on "Empowering the World: India’s Solar Exports and the Future of Solar Energy" at 2025 Intersolar India show in Gandhinagar, India.
Repowering a PV Plant After a Fire Event
January 30, 2025. When a fire damages a PV plant, recovery can be challenging—but with the right repowering strategy, restoration is possible. In this case study from Camelot Energy Group and Kiwa PVEL, we explore how fire damage in utility scale PV arrays can be sometimes be considerably more impactful than indicated by visual damage, and how good technical oversight is key to successfully remediating PV projects post-fire event.
Q1'25 STAC Webinar
Recorded Feb 12, 2025. Join Kiwa PVEL and CRU for an overview of our Q1 Solar Technology and Cost (STAC) service. Every quarter, the STAC service provides report subscribers with an update on PV manufacturing and module costs, including 5-year pricing outlooks, updated import/export data, and regional policy considerations.
Kiwa PVEL's 2024 Year in Review
Dec 31, 2024. As solar continued to break records in 2024, Kiwa PVEL also noted a number of highlights. Dec Learn more in our 2024 Year in Review.
The benefits of hail and wind resistant solar modules
Dec 10, 2024. In this pv magazine Webinar, Kiwa PVEL joins other experts to discuss what increasing weather events mean for the solar industry including the benefits of hail-and-wind-resistant modules from a utility, C&I, community solar perspective, as well as from a residential homeowner and installer perspective.
Q4'24 STAC and ESTAC Webinar
December 4, 2024. Recording available from Kiwa PVEL and Exawatt/CRU's final webinar of 2024, exploring the latest insights from our Q4 Energy Storage Technology and Cost (ESTAC) and Solar Technology and Cost (STAC) reports.
2024 bifiPV Workshop: Back-Contact Cell Technology
November 20th, 21st & 22nd 2024. At the 2024 bifiPV Workshop in Zhuhai, Kiwa PVEL's Jean-Nicolas Jaubert presented on the reliability of back contact solar modules.
See Kiwa PVEL on the Taiyang News Virtual Conference
On Oct. 21st 2024, Kiwa PVEL participated in the Taiyang News Reliable PV Module Design Conference. Click to learn more.
Read "Sunscreen for solar" from PV Magazine
Oct 4, 2024. Read the interview with Kiwa PVEL's Tristan Erion-Lorico and Archana Sinha, PhD about UVID concerns in solar modules.
Webinar Recording: Raising the Bar
Sep 25, 2024. Access the recording from our latest webinar, where Kiwa PVEL and Kiwa PI Berlin take a deep dive into our latest white paper on solar module quality recommendations: Raising the Bar.
Access the RE+ 2024 Presentation
Sep 12, 2024. Kiwa PVEL's Sishir Garemella presented an "Overview of Indian Module Manufacturers Serving the U.S. Market" at the RE+ 2024 show in Anaheim, CA.
IEEE PVSC presentation and poster
June 2024. The Kiwa PVEL team recently took part in 52nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference on June 9-14, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. VP of Technical Operations Todd Karin presented on “High-Accuracy Measurement of the Incidence Angle Modifier on PV Modules” and Senior Engineer Arcahana Sinha, PhD shared a poster presentation on “UV-Induced Degradation Susceptibility of Industrial N-Type Silicon High-Efficiency PV Modules.”
See Kiwa PVEL’s Presentation at Intersolar Europe
Jun 19, 2024. Kiwa PVEL’s Head of International Business Development Sishir Garemella delivered a presentation on “Understanding the Latest in PV Module Performance and Reliability” at this year’s evet in Munich.
The 2024 PV Module Reliability Scorecard
Jun 5, 2024. The 10th Edition of the PV Module Reliability Scorecard is now available. Click to explore this year’s results, including Top Performers, methodology, key testing insights, and more.
The delicate matter of protecting solar panels during shipping, handling and extended storage
April 9, 2024. In this article from Solar Power World, Kiwa PVEL’s Tristan Erion-Lorico talks about the risks and realities of shopping and storage PV modules.
Kiwa PVEL Presents at ModuleTech USA
On May 21-22nd, Kiwa PVEL was the official event partner of PV Tech’s third annual ModuleTech USA 2024. Click here to access our presentation from the event.
Recording Available
Watch on-demand as Kiwa PVEL and Exawatt/CRU explore the latest insights from our Energy Storage Technology and Cost (ESTAC) and Solar Technology and Cost (STAC) reports. Discover the implications of oversupply dynamics, delve into manufacturing expansion efforts beyond China, and gain crucial knowledge on the future of BESS installations in the US market. Presented: Wednesday, May 8 at 11am ET.
PI Berlin, PVEL, Extel Energy unite under Kiwa brand
April 3, 2024. PV Evolution Labs (PVEL), Extel Energy, and PI Berlin have unified under the Kiwa brand. Dutch company Kiwa, which has acquired the three PV testing laboratories over the past three years, says it aims to more effectively present its range of services for the solar industry.
How solar module manufacturers can avoid ADCVD tariffs
Jan 8, 2024. With the waiver of AD/CVD circumvention tariffs on SE Asian cells and modules that employ Chinese wafers set to expire in June this year, there are several key issues for the U.S. solar market. Kiwa PVEL’s Max Macpherson explains the potential for manufacturers to be able to sidestep the tariffs.
Cell Cracking in PV Modules: How Concerned Should You Be?
Feb 27, 2024. Kiwa PVEL’s hail testing has uncovered some unlikely good news about the impact of hail damage to PV modules. Although growing in prevalence, hail damage to PV modules might not be as worrisome a long-term problem as once feared.
PVRW Poster: Performance and safety of PV modules with extreme cell cracking damage
Feb 28, 2024. Kiwa PVEL’s VP of Technical Operations Todd Karin, PhD. poster on cell cracking from the annual NREL PV Reliability Workshop
PVRW Presentation: UV-induced Degradation in PV Cells
Feb 28, 2024. Kiwa PVEL’s Senior Engineer Archana Sinha presentation on UVID in PV cells from the annual NREL PV Reliability Workshop
Recording Now Available
Access the February 14th webinar where we took a closer look at the Q1’24 STAC report, and gave an introduction to Exawatt’s module tracker. The event included a live Q&A, where audience questions on solar technology and cost questions were answered by our experts.
Recording Now Available
January 31, 2024. In this webinar, experts from PVEL and Brown & Brown Risk Solutions provided an overview of microcracking risks, including the current challenges for developers and insurers, along with insights and the latest results from Kiwa PVEL’s extended reliability testing. An overview of insurance claims related to cell cracks and limitations for insurance coverage was also presented.
SolarEx Presentation: Insights on Reliability and Performance testing of Over 50 Module Manufacturers
April 10, 2024. Kiwa PVEL’s Head of International Business Development presented the latest on PV module testing trends at the 2024 SolarEx conference in Istanbul, Turkey. Click here to view the presentation
Weekend Read: Temper Tantrum
Jan 6, 2024. Reports of broken module glass with no obvious cause have begun to crop up at large PV projects. Module design, glass manufacturing, and interactions in the field between modules and trackers are at play and a clear solution has yet to emerge. Early signs suggest an update to certification standards may be needed.
PVEL will pay closer attention to hail stress and backsheet durability in future PV module tests
Nov 8, 2023. Solar testing group Kiwa PVEL announces upgrades to its suite of extended reliability and performance tests, the Product Qualification Program (PQP), including new hail stress updates.
Episode now available
June 27, 2023. In this Suncast episode, dive into Kiwa PVEL's rigorous testing process, the role of the Scorecard, and insights into what the data tells us as buyers about both the evolution of the technology and the importance of reliability testing. Listeners will learn about emerging technologies, like n-type Topcon, strategies to reduce high failure rates, India's rise in solar manufacturing, and upcoming industry trends, including manufacturing volumes and top performers!
Episode now available
Feb 20, 2023. Kiwa PVEL’s PQP results have become a prerequisite of sorts for foreign module manufacturers to sell into the U.S., as tax and debt equity investors typically require developers to procure modules that have undergone the firm's tests. Do you know what's in your module?
Understanding Bankability for Solar Manufacturers
January 9, 2023. In early 2023, Kiwa PVEL released a blog post detailing what "bankability" means for PV modules.
On the Horizon for Solar Testing in 2023
January 5, 2023. Kiwa PVEL looks back at the major trends of 2022 and looks forward to 2023.
A Look Back at PV ModuleTech U.S. 2022
June 7, 2022. Kiwa PVEL summarizes the highly successful inaugural PV ModuleTech USA, hosted at our facility in partnership with PV Tech.
Kiwa PVEL is Moving to Napa and Updating Our Module Test Program
October 12, 2021. Kiwa PVEL details the upcoming move to a new headquarters in Napa, California and how it will benefit our clients and partners.
PVEL Joins Kiwa Group
May 5, 2021. Kiwa is partnering with PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) to support PVEL’s growth and strengthen the Kiwa Group’s presence in renewable energy.
Celebrating Ten Years of PVUSA
March 30, 2021. Kiwa PVEL celebrates the history of outdoor testing at PVUSA.
Solar Tracker + Bifacial PV Module Production Yields
January 18, 2021. Solar Builder article on the latest bifacial production data, featuring contributions from Kiwa PVEL.
Looking into the cracks
December 29, 2020. A white paper published earlier in December by PV Evolution Labs investigates the formation of performance damaging cracks in PV cells, based on mechanical stress testing of more than 40 commercially available PV modules. While the lab warns that susceptibility to cracking will change according to the specific bill of materials making up each module, certain technologies are shown to perform better than others.
PV CellTech Talk: PVEL’s Jenya Meydbray discusses why PV technology is key to end-market success
October 26, 2020. PV-Tech’s head of research and Chair of PV CellTech, Finlay Colville took the time to catch up with Jenya Meydbray, CEO at PV Evolution Labs (PVEL), about why PV cell and module technology remains a critical issue for site performance and reliability globally.
Solar’s silent killer: Backsheets are shortening some project lifespans
January 15, 2020. Kiwa PVEL comments on the issue of backsheet failures for solar PV projects.
Happy Birthday to Us: A Look Back at PVEL’s First 10 Years
January 2020. PVEL co-founder and CEO, Jenya Meydbray, looks back at the company's first decade.
PV ModuleTech 2019 video: PVEL’s Jenya Meydbray
November 18, 2019. Founder Jenya Meydbray catches up with PV Tech on the sidelines of the Malaysia show for a chat about the trends dominating conference floor discussions.
PVCellTech Talk: Q&A with Jenya Meydbray, CEO, PV Evolution Labs
March 5 2019. PV Tech's interview with PVEL co-founder and CEO, Jenya Meydbray in the lead up to PV CellTech 2019.
Life of the Party: Here's why project level due diligence is important for OEMS
March 5 2019. Solar Builder Magazine interviews PVEL about solar project due diligence and the importance of third party testing.
Bifacial adoption and uncertainty: A call to action
February 27, 2019. In this op-ed for pv magazine, PVEL CEO Jenya Meydbray looks at challenges in the process of adopting new technologies as they relate to the deployment of bifacial modules.
PV Evolution Labs Splits From DNV GL
January 7, 2019. Greentech Media covers the news that DNV and PVEL have announced their split.
PV Evolution Labs & the Amazing Founder Story of Jenya Meydbray
September 6, 2018 PVEL Founder Jenya Meydbray was featured on the Suncast podcast with Nico Johnson to discuss his vision for founding a successful startup during an economic crisis.
