Ingeteam inverters’ electroluminescence boosts solar farm performance, lowers LCOE

Electroluminescence (EL) is a phenomenon in which a material emits light when an electric current is applied. This process is the inverse of how a solar panel generates electricity from light. EL has proven to be an invaluable diagnostic tool for assessing the health of photovoltaic (PV) panels. Applying current to PV cells causes them to emit infrared light which can be captured to identify and address defects and irregularities within the cells.

Historically, EL testing has been a labour-intensive process. Panels were tested individually in a dark environment, with imaging of each cell taken and processed separately. This method not only slowed down quality assurance testing but also created delays in warranty mediations.

Ingeteam has reimagined this approach. Our innovative technology can inject current back into the PV field through all strings connected to a single inverter. The process is completely safe, not requiring manual manipulation of any live electrical components. It can be run without even touching the inverter. When combined with drone-based infrared imaging and advanced image processing algorithms, this capability allows an entire inverter's worth of panels to be tested in just one drone flight. By drastically improving the efficiency of EL testing, Ingeteam is setting a new benchmark for solar panel diagnostics, enabling faster, more effective quality assessments across the industry.




Ingeteam has provided invaluable support to operations teams around the world through on-site electroluminescence (EL) testing. This has had real benefits for our clients and great financial impact. We design our inverters with advanced functionalities, because our focus is providing the best possible service and reduce our clients’ Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). Our expertise has been instrumental in optimizing the performance and reliability of solar farms in countries like Spain, Chile, Panama, the USA, and, most recently, Australia.

One notable example is our work with a 500 MW PV facility in New South Wales, Australia, where Ingeteam collaborated closely with the site operations team. Leveraging our advanced EL functionality, we enabled the simultaneous injection of current into an entire inverters' worth of panels. This level of efficient testing allowed the analysis of 13 inverters (25 MW of panels) in a single night of testing. That is, the testing gathered precise information about the state of approximately 40,000 PV panels. This approach resulted in streamlined defect identification and an accelerated timeline for performance optimization. Night-time testing minimises facility down-time during operation hours, limiting loss of revenue in the markets.

As we continue to assist PV plant operators, we look forward to sharing more insights into how large-scale EL testing can transform solar farm operations worldwide. With Ingeteam, solar farm operators no longer need to choose between precision and efficiency; our solutions deliver both.

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