Washington, DC - The SunShot Initiative is looking for feedback on approaches for developing lifetime predictions on photovoltaic (PV) models. The recently released Photovoltaic Lifetime Project Request for Information (RFI) focuses on the data collected at our Regional Test Centers, which evaluate the performance and operation of PV modules and systems across the country.

The rigorous testing in locations with different climates and irradiance levels validates module performance and identifies ways to improve PV quality.

PV modules are often assumed to degrade at the same rate, making them inoperable at the same time. However, due to the slow pace of degradation in working solar modules, which can last 20 or more years, as well as variations in the operating and test conditions, the true degradation rate of a PV module is difficult to measure and compare between different brands and technologies.

In an effort to expand public access to this performance data and collect it faster, SunShot seeks feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on approaches to expand the dataset publicly available for solar PV system lifetime service predictions.

Responses to the PV Lifetime Project RFI are due on Monday, November 30, 2015. Any questions about the RFI should be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..