Sungrow and TÜV Rheinland Release Inverter Reliability Standards

Sungrow, a manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters, and testing company TÜV Rheinland have introduced new, industry-first long-term reliability standards for solar inverters. The standards, named 2 PfG 3325 and 2 PfG 3328 - Part 2, were launched at the Intersolar Europe 2026 exhibition in Munich. They address the increasing demands of modern solar power plants.

The new standards are designed to overcome limitations in existing reliability testing methodologies, which may not fully capture the challenging environments where solar power plants operate, such as deserts, offshore locations, and high altitudes. Sungrow's SG510HX string inverter and its IGBT modules were among the first products to receive certification under these new specifications.

The developed standards establish a more scientific, quantitative, and traceable framework for assessing the lifetime performance of inverters. At the component level, 2 PfG 3325 focuses on failure mechanisms and lifetime models for power semiconductor components like IGBT modules. At the system level, 2 PfG 3328 - Part 2 evaluates the performance degradation and lifetime assessment of the complete inverter under complex environmental stresses.

Enhanced test items have been incorporated into the standards to better cover diverse operating scenarios. System-level testing includes elements such as 4,000-hour accelerated aging tests and continuous operation during low and high voltage ride-through events. Component-level IGBT testing has been strengthened with extended high-temperature bias testing and additional thermal cycling. These improvements aim to ensure durability under rigorous conditions.

According to Thomas Haupt, Vice President of TÜV Rheinland Group, the new standards offer valuable references for manufacturers and investors in evaluating lifecycle performance. Sungrow contributed its 29 years of power electronics expertise to the development process.