Laboratory for Photovoltaic Systems

The core competencies of the dozen or so specialists working at the PV Lab include analysing the long-term behaviour of PV systems in terms of safety, reliability and energy output. Research on photovoltaic systems has been carried out at the Laboratory for Photovoltaic Systems (PV Lab) of Bern University of Applied Sciences in Burgdorf since 1988. Special emphasis is placed on inverters whose behaviour on the power grid is being investigated at the PV Lab.

Core competencies: testing, measuring and analysis

PV systems have evolved from niche to mainstream products. Along with hydropower, they are set to soon become one of the key pillars of the energy supply in Switzerland. The challenges of applied research in this field have changed with time.

While the goal in the 1990s was demonstrating that PV systems could reliably generate power for longer than five years, today the key issues include safety (e.g. fire protection) and grid conformity. Thanks to its commercial success, photovoltaics technology is continually penetrating new markets. Each new application presents new challenges and risks. BFH’s PV Lab has continued to focus on its core competencies: it performs testing and analysis based on application-relevant scenarios which PV planners and installation engineers cannot undertake themselves. The PV Lab is also continually developing new measuring concepts and devices for this purpose.

Services

The PV Lab also makes its knowledge and expertise available to the public and private sectors. Its range of services includes:

Inverter and PV system testing (efficiency, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), function tests, damage analysis, analysis of fire scenarios)
Testing of inverters in relation to requirements for connection to the distribution grid (network and system protection, fault ride-through, active and reactive power control)
Measurement of battery systems in collaboration with the Energy Storage Research Centre
Measurement of line and field-related electromagnetic faults related to PV systems
Analysis of PV modules in the laboratory and in the field (characteristic curve measurements, thermographic and electroluminescence measurements, potential-induced degradation PID)
Reflection and glare measurements
Measurements in the High-Voltage Systems Lab (insulation strength, resistance against direct and indirect lightning strikes)
Research partnership for Innosuisse projects
Research-related calculations, studies and expertise

All services are carried out – as far as possible – with students from Bern University of Applied Sciences for training purposes. Unless copyright-protected by an industry partner, research findings are made public in the form of publications.

Brochure

Industry Relations

Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM

Our work involves researching and developing new solutions for storing and converting electricity for the energy supply and distribution sectors. We are also looking to make mobility as energy-efficient as...

Expertise

Inverter

BFH’s inverter lab specialises in three areas:

Grid connection of inverters (smart-grid functions of inverters, network and system protection, fault ride-through FRT)
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
Efficiency measurements

In addition to purely PV-grid connection inverters, off-grid and PV battery systems are also tested. Close collaboration with the High-Voltage Systems Lab enables testing of inverters’ resilience against direct or indirect lightning strikes. The Laboratory for Photovoltaic Systems is part of the Energy Storage Research Centre in Biel which means it has access to high-quality infrastructure for testing batteries and related systems.

The IT backbone of the inverter lab is the browser-based MUSCLE concept developed at BFH. This open-source concept uses Python programmes which control simulators and read measuring devices via embedded systems.

Contact

Projects

Plug & Play Photovoltaic Systems

The project investigates for the first time the potential for plug-and-play PV systems in Switzerland. Based on operating scenarios and device analyses, a list of requirements (performance, safety,...

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project David Joss

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Sicherheits- und Ertragsprüfungen von steckbaren Photovoltaikanlagen

Photovoltaikmodule und Mikrowechselrichter können als betriebsbereite und steckbare Systeme für Balkongeländer eingekauft werden. Die darin enthaltenen Komponenten wurden ursprünglich für den Einsatz in...

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project David Joss

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Fire prevention on PV systems with arc fault detectors

In this project with Gebäudeversicherung Bern, the cantonal building insurance company, the effectiveness of arc fault detectors in PV systems is being researched and their role with respect to fire...

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project David Joss

See research project

GODA - grid optimisation with decentralised actors

Power curtailment of a PV system relieves the strain on the grid while resulting in barely any loss of energy yield. The inverter P(U) control function was tested in a field trial and analysed for...

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project David Joss

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Lebenserwartung Photovoltaik-Wechselrichter

Wie lange funktioniert ein PV-Wechselrichter? Eine Faustregel besagt, dass er im Leben einer PV-Anlage einmal ersetzt werden muss. Stimmt das? Das vorliegende Projekt gibt Antwort auf diese und weitere Fragen.

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project Prof. Dr. Christof Bucher

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SWEET EDGE

The SWEET funding programme supports research and innovation that contributes to the successful implementation of the Energy Strategy 2050. As a consortium partner, Bern University of Applied Sciences is...

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project David Joss

See research project

PV Components

The PV components research area covers topics relating to PV modules, bypass diodes, solar glass, connectors and other components required for a PV system. The PV laboratory uses various indoor and outdoor measuring devices to analyse the properties, quality and reliability of PV components.

One speciality is the characteristic curve measuring device developed at the PV laboratory for the automatic recording of characteristic curves of PV modules in the field. This allows, for example, the effects of partial shading at module level to be monitored in detail in pilot projects.

The research and service offerings include

Measurement of PV modules in the laboratory and in the field
Characteristic curve measurements of PV modules
Infrared images (hot spots)
Electroluminescence images (cell fractures)
Ultraviolet fluorescence images (cell fractures, degradation)
Steady-state analyses with solar simulator (hot spots, heating effects)
Benchmarking of PV modules

Contact

Projects

Photovoltaic benchmark plant on Mont-Soleil

A photovoltaic benchmark plant is to be installed on Mont-Soleil using PV modules made by different manufacturers from various parts of the world to carry out scientific analysis of their energy output and...

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research
IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project Matthias Burri

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Long-term behaviour of PV connectors

Millions of them are installed on Swiss rooftops – connectors for photovoltaic (PV) systems. The international company Stäubli Electrical Connectors AG, with headquarters in Allschwil, is a global market...

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Head of project Matthias Burri

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AURORA

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project Matthias Burri

See research project

PV Systems

The PV systems research area focusses on the interaction of PV components in practice and on issues relating to photovoltaics in the context of the Swiss electricity supply.

The research and service offerings include

Agri-photovoltaic systems: Together with our colleagues at the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL), we are investigating the interplay between electricity and food production
Alpine PV systems: Together with the PV laboratories of ZHAW, SUPSI and OST, we are investigating technical issues relating to alpine PV systems.
Studies, calculations and simulations: We have various commercial and self-developed software and tools for analysing PV systems.
Realisation of measurement campaigns for PV systems

Contact

Projects

Manual for bifacial, vertical photovoltaic systems

The bifacial vertical photovoltaic handbook is a technical planning aid for vertically installed, bifacial PV systems for the Swiss Plateau and alpine areas.

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project Christof Bucher

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Development and comparison of different agrivoltaic technologies on berry crops

The company Bioschmid gmbh protects its raspberries from heavy rainfall and heat with PV modules on three trial fields. The Laboratory for Photovoltaic Systems is in charge of the measurements on the PV system.

Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
Head of project Matthias Hügi

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Kompetenzplattform Agri-PV - Forschung, Bildung und Dienstleistung

Die Kompetenzplattform Agri-PV soll sowohl im Agrar- wie auch im PV-Bereich Leistungen aus einer Hand anbieten. Dank der Zusammenarbeit des PV-Labors der BFH-TI und der HAFL wird dies möglich.

Institute(s) Agriculture
Research unit(s) Plant Production and Biodiversity
Head of project Dominik Füglistaller

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News

Photovoltaic potential in Switzerland

15.08.2022 There is sufficient PV potential on roof surfaces alone for the successful implementation of the Energy Strategy. Although façade, infrastructure, alpine or agri PV systems can help to achieve the goals...

Further activités of the PV Lab

Research projects

Every year, BFH students write project, Bachelor's and Master's theses at the PV laboratory. The following work has been realised in recent years (selection):

Concept and construction of a characteristic curve measuring device for PV modules
Concept and construction of an LED sun simulator
Development of a measurement method for glare on PV systems
Comparison of different simulation tools for bifacial vertical PV systems

If you are an industrial partner and would like to tender for work in the PV Laboratory's area of expertise, you are welcome to contact the PV Laboratory. In order for a paper to be put out to tender, it must contain at least one research question that is not currently a standard service in the PV industry.

Facilities

BFH’s Laboratory for Photovoltaic Systems has the following facilities:

A range of PV systems of various ages and based on different technologies
Inverter lab with programmable DC and AC sources and sinks for inverter testing up to 100 kVA
Test bench for module inverters and power optimisers
High-Voltage Systems Lab for direct and indirect lightning strikes, surge-voltage generator (direct and alternating current applications)
Stationary and mobile testing facilities for measuring electromagnetic fields
Sun simulator and flasher
Electroluminescence measuring equipment
Ultraviolet fluorescence measuring equipment
Mobile test equipment (characteristic curve measuring devices, thermographic cameras)
Climatic chambers for humidity/heat/cold tests
Connector test bench for analysing the ageing of PV connectors