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Commissioning Field Testing
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Electroluminescence (EL) Testing
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Infrared Thermography
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IV Curve Tracing
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Visual Inspection
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Hidden electrical defect testing
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BOS / Electrical Field Testing
Set a clear baseline before handover
A solar PV system can look ready for operation while still carrying hidden module damage, affected strings, installation issues, or early electrical faults.
Commissioning is the right moment to document system condition before handover. A commissioning inspection helps you understand what the site looks like at the start of operation, so future issues can be compared against a clear reference point.
This can support handover, warranty discussions, future inspections, claim documentation, and long-term asset management.
When this inspection helps
The solar PV system is being prepared for handover.
You need to document module and string condition before operation.
You want a baseline for future inspections or warranty discussions.
You need to check whether transport, installation, or early operation caused damage.
Factory EL images are available and you want to compare them with field results.
You want to define reference strings or rows for repeat inspections later.
What we may test
The final commissioning scope depends on the objective, site layout, available factory data, access conditions, and the level of evidence needed. Intertek CEA may combine several methods to build a commissioning plan that is practical to execute and useful after handover.
| Method | What it helps identify | When it is useful |
|---|---|---|
| Visual inspection | Visible module damage, glass breakage, frame damage, connector issues, wiring concerns, installation issues, and site-level observations. | Useful as a first-level check and for documenting visible condition at handover. |
| Thermography | Thermal anomalies, affected modules or strings, hotspots, and operating issues that appear under the right field conditions. | Useful for broad site screening while the system is operating. |
| EL testing | Hidden cell cracks, inactive cell areas, internal module damage, and cell-level defects that may not be visible from the outside. | Useful when high-detail module evidence is needed, especially for baseline records or factory-to-field comparison. |
| IV curve tracing | Electrical performance behavior of modules, strings, or sample groups. | Useful when commissioning questions involve performance confirmation or abnormal electrical output. |
| Electrical field testing | Insulation issues, bypass diode concerns, lost substring behavior, or other electrical faults. | Useful when the question is electrical behavior rather than visible or image-based damage alone. |
| Serial number scan | Traceability between inspected modules, factory records, field images, and site location. | Useful when findings need to be tied to module IDs, batches, warranty records, or future repeat inspections. |
The exact method mix depends on system status, access, timing, inspection objective, and how the results will be used after handover.
How we decide the right scope
The final inspection plan depends on what you need the commissioning evidence to support.
What do you need to document at handover?
If the goal is a general handover record, the scope may focus on broad visual and thermal screening with a defined EL sample. If the goal is to support warranty readiness or future claims, the inspection may need more detailed module-level documentation.
Are factory records available?
If factory electroluminescence, or EL, images are available, field EL images can provide a useful comparison point. This can help separate manufacturing condition from transport, installation, or early field damage.
What level of coverage is needed?
Not every commissioning inspection needs 100% high-resolution testing. The right approach may include full-site thermography, a defined EL sampling plan, targeted follow-up, or reference strings that can be measured again later.
What site constraints affect testing?
The method depends on system layout, access, power availability, module orientation, roof or ground-mount configuration, no-flight restrictions, weather windows, and whether the system is already operating.
How will the results be used later?
A useful commissioning report should be easy to use after handover. Before fieldwork starts, it helps to agree how findings will be mapped: by serial number, string, table, inverter block, GPS location, or the site’s own naming conventions.
What you get
The report should give your team a clear view of:
Which modules, strings, or site areas were inspected
What visible, thermal, cell-level, or electrical issues were found
Whether findings appear isolated or repeated across the site
Which results can be tied to serial numbers, strings, rows, or inverter blocks
Whether factory EL comparison is possible
Whether additional testing, remediation, or monitoring is recommended
Which reference strings or rows can be used for future comparison, if included in the scope
Request a commissioning field testing plan
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