PicoPV Test

Overview

Pico PV Systems have emerged as a strong contender in the solar market of developing countries. Thus,EnDev has developed a test series to test their effectiveness.

Technical Test I

The technical tests are performed by Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG/ISE) in Freiburg, Germany. In the first test phase (2007/ 10 - 2008/ 01) twelve systems were tested on road capability with special focus on mechanical stability, lighting characteristics and operability.

These systems were in detail:

• GL9000SW, Global Marketing Technologies Inc. (US) --> overall picture bad
• MS01, Macro-Solar Technology Co,. Ltd (China) --> overall picture very bad
• Solar 2007-1, Solarprojekt-Freilassing e.v. (Germany) --> overall picture good
• Mightylight, Cosmos Ignite Innovations (India) --> overall picture good
• AISHWARYA, Noble energy Solar Technologies Ltd. (?) --> overall picture middle
• Solar Home System, "Afghanistan" --> overall picture very bad
• 2212SL Wuara, SolEnergy Africa (PTY) Ltd (South Africa) --> overall picture very bad
• SOLUX-LED-100, SOLUX e.v. (Germany) --> overall picture middle
• Sun x-set mobile, Würth Solergy (Germany) --> overall picture middle - bad
• Glowstar GS7, Sollatek Ltd. (UK) --> overall picture middle
• AS018, Astral Solar technology Co. (China) --> overall picture bad
• SOLUX-LED-50, SOLUX e.v. (Germany) --> overall picture middle

Technical Test II

Seven solar lanterns reached the second testing stage, of which four are German-made: the Solux LED 100 and Solux LED 50 of the Solux e.V. development assistance project, the Solar 2007-1 by the Freilassing solar promotion project, and the sun x-set mobile produced by Würth. Other lamps of the main test were the Glowstar GS7 of the British company Sollatek, the A­ishwarya NEST-6543 of the Indian manufacturer Noble Energy and the Mightylight 3040, also Indian made.

In the following table you find a selection of the most important criteria:

Testcriteria Level 2

Solar module	Does the system deliver the nominal rated values of power output, open- circuit voltage and shortcircuit current?
Battery	Measure of capacity (NiMH+ Pb), persistence against overcharging (NiMH), simple durability test (NiMH)
Luminous fux	average of 210 minutes
Brennzeit/autonome Zeit	The duration is measured until luminous flux falls to 70 % of the initial value. (beginning from a fully-charged battery)
Luminous efficacy	average is obtained from a period of 210 minutes, beginning from a fully-charged battery.
Charge Controller	Spannungslevel Ladeschluss-/ Lastabwurfspannung, Eigenverbrauch, Signalisierungen, Schutz vor Entladung durch Modul, Wirkungsgrad
Ballast device	How good is the efficiency of the ballast?
Cycle test / degradation of CFL-lamps	How long do CFL lamps last when subjected to a switching cycle of ‘on’ for 60 seconds, ‘off’ for 150 seconds?
Simulation	Ermittlung der solaren Deckungsrate für 5 Standorte bei einer Brenndauer von täglich 3,5 Stunden

Field Test

The publication is available in English and German:

• English version
• German version

Further Information

• PicoPV Field Tests (of GTZ EnDev)
• The SOLAR 2007-1 Lantern (Solarprojekt Freilassing e.V.)has been upgraded with new LEDs of 80 lm/W.