Tailoring Photovoltaic Component
Specifications to Industry Needs
JOHN BAXTER: MANAGER, PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY, SWAGELOK COMPANY
A discussion of how one manufacturer has addressed
the needs for stainless steel standards in the photovoltaic
industry. (Exclusive to Gases & Instrumentation).
For the global photovoltaic (PV) power industry to prosper, it must become more competitive with the cost of traditional electric power. That means reduc-
ing the cost per kilowatt-hour (k Wh) associated with
solar-generated power to a level that yields grid parity
between solar power and traditional electricity.
Among the factors that weigh on the PV industry’s
ability to achieve grid parity are standards that add to
the total cost per k Wh. Following standards is a preferred
practice as specifications ensure quality in components,
processes, manufacturing and end-product performance.
However, in some cases, PV standards may be stricter
than what is necessary to ensure the safe, efficient gen-
eration of power. By their nature, tighter specs are more
costly. As PV energy producers and market suppliers work
toward reducing costs, they need to examine existing
standards and determine if less stringent specifications
can yield acceptable results while saving money.
Swagelok is addressing one such area of PV manufacturing that defines specifications for stainless steel components used in the production of solar cells. For the most
part, current high-purity product designs are appropriate
for PV processing. However, they often include ultrahigh-purity (UHP) final cleaning and assembly practices
that more appropriately address needs in semiconductor manufacturing to minimize particle generation and
contamination. This “extra” level of cleanliness is often
beyond the requirements of most PV processes that can
tolerate slightly higher particle counts and contamination levels due to the relatively large linewidths and the
parallel nature of solar cells.
qualified” components, which are defined as products
that are subject to non-UHP manufacturing and cleaning
protocols. Such components introduce risks, such as
downtime due to contamination and potential system
integrity issues.
Working with industry leaders to determine more
appropriate specifications for PV manufacturing led to
the introduction of the Swagelok Photovoltaic Process
Specification (SC-06). This component processing specification includes testing, cleaning, and packaging steps
for stainless steel components used in PV applications. It
sets baseline requirements for components used in the
PV industry without incurring the cost associated with
stricter UHP requirements.
Component Selection for Gas Systems
Proper selection of reliable products is a critical aspect
in manufacturing PV panels designed for years of service
in a demanding environment. From a fluid component
standpoint, this means the process equipment needs to be
both reliable and repeatable over many years of service.
The cleanliness chain—a series of interconnected, controlled steps designed to ensure the proper cleanliness of
a component from its initial design to final installation—
addresses exactly this point. The SC-06 process specification is an integral part of the cleanliness chain, relaxing
specific criteria in the interest of cost reductions while
maintaining the process controls required to ensure product reliability.
For example, surface finish requirements are relaxed in
SC-06 compared to those used for UHP semiconductor
components. Minimizing surface flaws and inclusions
