Welcome to the ASU Photovoltaic Reliability Laboratory (PRL) Established in 1992 as ASU Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory (ASU-PTL), we are a premier academic research facility dedicated to the reliability, durability, and lifetime prediction of solar PV modules, systems and system components.
Welcome to ASU Photovoltaic Reliability Laboratory
Welcome!
Our mission is to identify, quantify, and predict complex degradation mechanisms in photovoltaic modules, power electronics, and PV module packaging materials before they lead to catastrophic field failures.
The ASU PRL Advantage
Ultimate Proving Ground
Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, our facility uniquely combines highly controlled indoor accelerated stress chambers with an extreme high-irradiance, high-temperature outdoor testing environment.
Comprehensive Diagnostics
We don't just measure power loss; we uncover the molecular 'why'. Our lab bridges electrical performance monitoring with advanced molecular, thermal, and optical material characterization.
Decades of Experience
With over three decades of continuous operation, our lab houses an unparalleled repository of test equipment, outdoor test facilities, long-term field degradation data, driving statistical models that define modern reliability standards.
Our Core Pillars of Research
Accelerated Stress Testing
Simulating decades of extreme environmental wear—including thermal cycling, damp heat, and UV exposure—in a matter of months using state-of-the-art environmental chambers.
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Material Characterization
Utilizing advanced thermal, optical, and chemical analysis (FTIR, DSC, TGA, and Hyperspectral Imaging) to track the molecular degradation of encapsulants and backsheets.
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Field Evaluations
Validating laboratory models against real-world energy yield through utility-scale tracking systems, adjustable-tilt arrays, and nationwide power plant evaluations.
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Physical & Statistical Modeling
Utilizing decades of empirical field data and indoor stress results to develop advanced predictive models, accurately forecasting long-term degradation rates and system lifetimes.