Abstract

The reuse of photovoltaic modules (PVM), also known as “PV 2nd-life”, is seen as a strategy to reduce the potential waste generation of the massification of this technology. The lack of a standard methodology to test and classify used modules is one of the barriers to enable a PVM second life. The present work contributes to this issue, proposing a procedure to determine the PV module status for its second life application. The procedure was elaborated based on non-destructive tests of the IEC standards and IEA PVPS reports. It is formed by six steps, each one with its own methodology: 1. PVM registration; 2. Visual inspection; 3. Electrical insulation (dry); 4. Electrical characterization (I-V curves); 5. Infrared thermography; 6. Electroluminescence imaging. From a thousand analyzed PVMs, 3.0% are in conditions to be reused to produce energy, 30.7% show defects but with chances to be repaired before its usage, 27.8% are not recommended to be used as active element but in passive applications, and 38.6% must be discarded or sent to recycling. Using the approved PVMs in the test bench demonstrates these devices are safe to use, proving the effectiveness of the procedure.